TULSA, OK — A tornado warning issued just after 1:14 a.m. for northeastern Oklahoma was allowed to expire about 15 minutes later, but forecasters said the overnight storm threat was not over. The National Weather Service said the warning covered Vinita, Afton and Adair.
During live storm coverage, meteorologist Michael Seger said a tornado may have touched down near Patton and spread across areas from White Oak to around Vinita. Even after the warning expired, officials said a tornado watch remained in place for parts of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma until 3 a.m.
Meteorologist says tornado likely touched down near Patton
Seger described the storm as one that may have briefly spun up in a narrow corridor of northeastern Oklahoma. His live update pointed to an area near Patton, then across a broader stretch from White Oak to Vinita, suggesting the most intense part of the storm moved quickly through the region.
The warning itself was short-lived, but it came during a night when forecasters were watching multiple severe weather threats. Officials said storms Monday night into Tuesday morning could still produce a few tornado warnings, along with locally damaging wind gusts. That meant residents in the warning area still needed to stay alert even after the first alert expired.
Watch remains in effect across four states until 3 a.m.
A tornado watch stayed active for parts of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma through 3 a.m., keeping a large overnight area under heightened concern. In the local viewing area, that included Green County, where residents were urged to keep weather alerts turned on and ready to wake them up if conditions changed.
Forecasters said the biggest severe weather danger was expected later in the evening as a line of storms moved northeast across eastern Oklahoma. That setup raised the risk of additional warnings as the storm system continued to organize and track through the region.
Damaging winds, hail and flash flooding remain possible
Along with tornadoes, the weather service warned that flash flooding and hail could not be ruled out. The concern centered on how the storm line could intensify as it crossed eastern Oklahoma, creating multiple hazards in a short period of time.
Residents were told to have more than one way to receive warnings, including alerts that can wake them while they are asleep. That advice was especially important because the overnight timing meant dangerous weather could arrive with little notice, and some of the strongest impacts might happen before sunrise.
Storms expected to exit the forecast area around 3 a.m.
Officials said the storms should move out of the forecast area around 3 a.m., opening the door to drier and breezier conditions early Tuesday. Even after the severe threat fades, the overnight system is expected to leave behind a noticeable change in the local weather pattern.
A cold front moving through early Tuesday will turn winds more northerly, and those winds are expected to stay brisk through Election Day. Forecasters said skies should stay mostly cloudy, with highs in the mid 60s and temperatures falling back into the upper 50s by early evening.
Cooler, quieter weather follows the storm line later this week
After the front passes, the rest of the week should trend more seasonable. Highs are expected to stay in the 60s to near 70 degrees, while morning lows could dip into the 40s by midweek.
A few light showers are possible during the day Tuesday, and another round of showers could return Thursday. Otherwise, the forecast is expected to stay fairly dry through the rest of the week and into the weekend, giving the region a calmer stretch after the overnight severe weather threat.