At least 16 tornados devastated America’s heartland with Oklahoma bearing the brunt – as more severe weather looms over the Great Plains and South.
Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Montana and Louisiana were battered with bad weather on Thursday night – as it wreaked havoc across the Midwest.
The worst damage was in Noble, Oklahoma – roughly 30 miles outside of Oklahoma City – where four businesses and homes were struck by the storm.
In Weskan, Kansas, a multi-vortex tornado tore off part of a school’s roof, while also damaging stadium bleachers, a scoreboard, and more.
A large tornado can be seen touching down in Cole, Oklahoma on Thursday evening
Several twisters were spotted throughout the heartland, including in Wallace, Kansas (left) and Akron, Colorado (right)
A funnel cloud was caught rolling over the mountains in Mountain (pictured) earlier this week as at least 16 tornadoes tore through the Great Plains and the South on Thursday. The area also saw plenty of other twisters throughout the Great Plains and the South earlier this week
Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana were battered with bad weather and at least 16 terrifying twisters on Thursday evening as bad weather rolls through the country’s heartland
‘After we left the shelter – it was in the big gym – I noticed a waterfall [as] the roof had gotten damaged pretty good, and water was coming in from the rain,’ Principal of Weskan Schools, Jeff Montero, told KWCH.
‘And then as we walked through the building we saw broken glass. And then upstairs, my office and a few other offices and classrooms and stuff, you can look up and see sky.’
Weskan Schools was just three days out from the end of the year and had prepared the alum-funded bleachers for their graduation ceremony.
The $75,000 bleachers had only stood at the school for a week and a half before the twister mangled the structure.
At the end of the day, though, Montero was ‘just happy no one got hurt.’
‘I was really worried about the kids when I was down there, trying to keep them safe, keep them calm, and make sure they weren’t freaking out,’ he said.
Other tornados also touched down in McDonald, Grove County, and Edson in Kansas, according to Accuweather.
In Colorado, many short-lived tornadoes were spotted bouncing around near Arapahoe County – near Denver. More tornadoes were also spotted in Nebraska.
Outside of the twisters, the Great Plains suffered from heavy downpours and hail, with some areas experiencing an average of two months of rain in two days.
Cherry Creek Reservoir State Park in Colorado got around 10 inches on Tuesday, which left several roadways damaged, with massive holes and cracks in the asphalt.
In Weskan, Kansas, a multi-vortex tornado tore off part of a school’s roof, while also damaging stadium bleachers, a scoreboard, and more
Weskan Schools was just three days out from the end of the year and had prepared the alum-funded bleachers for their graduation ceremony. The $75,000 bleachers had only stood at the school for a week and a half before the twister mangled the structure
A tree was seem blocking a roadway in Kansas after one of the twisters (pictured)
Two people in Oklahoma nervously look out their door after the storm in Noble. The worst damage was in Noble – roughly 30 miles outside of Oklahoma City – where four businesses and homes were struck by the storm
Denver International Airport got just over four inches of rain between Wednesday and Friday, which is above average for the area.
More severe weather is expected to hit the middle of the country on Friday, with large hail, damaging winds, and some tornadoes forecasted.
Kansas City, Des Moines, and Omaha all have the highest threat for hail and tornadoes, according to Good Morning America (GMA).
Meanwhile, Oklahoma City, Dallas, and San Antonio have the highest threat for damaging winds.
Flash flooding could also be a major issues from Wyoming to Texas and alerts have already been sent to residents. Some areas in Texas could get up to 10 inches of rain over the next few days, the National Weather Service predicted.