Tornado on the ground in the town my in-laws are in....

[YellowRubberDuckie]

El Reno, Oklahoma...I looked to the west on the balcony, and saw it. No damage...And it pulled up before we could get the digital camera out. Sorry. No pics. Any DUers in Oklahoma tonight? Please keep yourselves save and watch the tv closely. Be safe!!
Duckie

[Scout1071]

1. Where?

I watching a nasty storm just to the South of me that seems to be headed my direction. I'm in KC.


Edited to note that as I hit the "post message" button, I simultaneously heard the first rumble of thunder. Something wicked this way comes...

[RoyGBiv]

2. It's still there...

It keeps bouncing. There's another one a short distance away from it that just took out some hangars at El Reno Airport.

OnEdit: They're both really small at the moment, probably about the width of an airport hangar judging from the damage it did. Channel 9 (10 on OKC cable) has shots of them from really close taken by its helicopter. In fact the second one started forming on top of the helicopter while it was filming the first.

Sirens are probably about to go off here...

Well, as I type that, there they go.

[uppityperson]

3. hope you have a good place to go.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

4. We're in a 24 story concrete building...

Where the hell would we go? No basement? And if this building goes, I don't think I want to be in the basement.
Ducie

[uppityperson]

6. naw, concrete building sounds like a ok place to be.

inside room though, away from the nasty winds. I read something interesting recently about where to be if a building collapses. NOT under a table, but by something like a couch or some such since there is usually a small triangle that stuff doesn't fall in onto. Now, all I have to do is carry a couch around with me, or only go to places that have couches. Tornados, am glad I moved to earthquake country.

[RoyGBiv]

8. Are you downtown?

If so, there should be an old fallout shelter around there somewhere close.

In any case, those building are pretty safe as long as you stay away from the outer walls/windows.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

11. Downtown indeed...

Across from the OKC Memorial...
Duckie

[RoyGBiv]

5. Thanks, I do ...

There's a cellar type structure in my condo complex. I also have a good line of sight in the direction from which the storms will approach. They're about 15 miles away traveling about 15 miles per hour. Problem is there are new wall clouds forming all over the place. These storms are just now getting organized. People north and east of here my have a long night.

I don't get some people. You'd think, in Oklahoma, where this happens all the time, someone seeing this happening right in front of them would know better, but NOOOOOO. Both these funnels are running right beside I-40 at the moment, and here go the cars, just moving along like nothing is happening. Sheesh.

Looks like it tore apart some airplanes in El Reno, but they've both bounced back up again.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

7. Yup...

Please check in periodically, Roy. I hope everything is ok...Stay safe!
Duckie

[RoyGBiv]

9. You too...

I'm gonna sign off here in a minute due to the lightning. I'll be back around once it rumbles its way through.

[uppityperson]

10. now don't get too occupied watching and photographing.

head for shelter when you need to. I am amazed at how many people (here out west anyways) that quote that "go to an underpass when you see a tornado" crap. And "auntie em, auntie em, I'm gonna get sucked up into the tornadoooo". Be safe and check back in later please.

[RoyGBiv]

15. It's all good here ...

The area where the circulation was went right over me, but it was breaking apart at the time. Nothing really worth a photograph. :-)

Everything nasty is now way south or north of here.

[Whoa_Nelly]

12. Any updates on the tornado watch?

My best friend lives out by Hefner Rd. and Council Rd. How are things in the city right now? (8:30 PM CDT)

[RoyGBiv]

13. Heavy rain and hail ...

Lots of wind. That particular storm is being weakened by a storm south of it. Southern storm is wrapping cold air around it and throwing it into the inflow part of the northern storm.

I got marble sized hail at my place and a lot blowing crap, but thankfully this storm seems to be breaking apart. The northern part of that storm is at the moment working its way through where your friend lives, but I wouldn't worry.

[Whoa_Nelly]

16. Thanks! Tried to call her about 1/2 hour ago

but no answer.

I appreciate knowing how the storm is going.
(...and DAMN! Wish I were there! I LOVE OK storms! ...oh well...will be living there again soon enough :) )

[Floogeldy]

14. I think it is going to go north of us, Duckie.

Take a deep breath. ;)

[YellowRubberDuckie]

19. Yep, we're all good here.

It was kinda neat watching the storms from my balcony. Glad everyone is ok!!
Duckie

[lady raven]

17. It's going to be quite an evening in OK tonight

This line is spawning tornadoes all over the place.

[mvd]

18. Yikes - hope they stay safe!

Same for our all our Oklahoma DUers.