Easter weekend severe weather leaves at least 5 dead in Oklahoma as storms pummel central US
Officials say a tornado in Spaulding, Oklahoma, killed one person and flooding in Moore left two people dead, including a child. A mother and daughter were also killed in Tulsa County from floodwaters.
Deadly severe weather tears across central US over Easter weekend
At least three people have died when severe weather tore across portions of the Plains and Midwest in the central U.S. over Easter Weekend. FOX Weather Meteorologists Britta Merwin and Kendall Smith have the latest on Monday, April 21, 2025.
MOORE, Okla. – Powerful thunderstorms that produced large hail, damaging wind gusts, tornadoes and flooding tore across the Plains and Midwest over Easter weekend, leaving at least five people dead.
This image sows tornado damage in Spaulding, Oklahoma.
(Hughes County Emergency Management/Facebook / FOX Weather)
According to Hughes County Emergency Management in Oklahoma, a tornado with a preliminary rating of EF-1 and winds of 105-110 mph touched down in the community of Spaulding, located southeast of Oklahoma City, on Saturday night.
Officials said the tornado destroyed two homes and several smaller structures, as well as numerous trees.
One person was killed, and two others were injured.
Watch: Deadly flooding in Moore, Oklahoma
At least two people, including a 12-year-old boy, were killed after their vehicle was washed away by flooding in Moore, Oklahoma, on Saturday, April 19, 2025.
In Moore, at least two people, including a 12-year-old boy, were killed when flooding swept their vehicle away late Saturday night.
"It is with great sadness that we report that two individuals, an adult female and 12-year-old male, were later located deceased," police said in a Facebook post.
Police described the event as "historical," and it resulted in dozens of high-water rescues across the city.
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![Two people, including a child, are missing after their vehicle was swept away by floodwaters south of Leonard.]()
Image 1 of 14Two people, including a child, are missing after their vehicle was swept away by floodwaters south of Leonard. (Tulsa County Sheriff's Office/Facebook)
![This image shows damage to the City of Columbia Material Recovery Facility after severe weather on Sunday, April 21, 2025.]()
Image 2 of 14This image shows damage to the City of Columbia Material Recovery Facility after severe weather on Sunday, April 21, 2025. (Columbia, MO Fire Department/Facebook)
![This image sows tornado damage in Spaulding, Oklahoma.]()
Image 3 of 14This image sows tornado damage in Spaulding, Oklahoma. (Hughes County Emergency Management/Facebook)
![This image sows tornado damage in Spaulding, Oklahoma.]()
Image 4 of 14This image sows tornado damage in Spaulding, Oklahoma. (Hughes County Emergency Management/Facebook)
![A common theme throughout the Fayetteville community is yet another house with the roof partially ripped away.]()
Image 5 of 14A common theme throughout the Fayetteville community is yet another house with the roof partially ripped away. (@ColbyEffect / X)
![The roof of an Arkansas home has been ripped apart due to the extreme winds.]()
Image 6 of 14The roof of an Arkansas home has been ripped apart due to the extreme winds. (@ColbyEffect / X)
![A home in a Fayetteville neighborhood had its front two windows ripped away from the house's structure. Two large windows have been covered.]()
Image 7 of 14A home in a Fayetteville neighborhood had its front two windows ripped away from the house's structure. Two large windows have been covered. (@ColbyEffect / X)
![A rough scene in Arkansas as a possible tornado ripped through communities throughout the state.]()
Image 8 of 14A rough scene in Arkansas as a possible tornado ripped through communities throughout the state. (@ColbyEffect / X)
![This image shows damage that occurred during severe weather in Jacksboro, Texas, on Saturday, April 19, 2025.]()
Image 9 of 14This image shows damage that occurred during severe weather in Jacksboro, Texas, on Saturday, April 19, 2025. (@scr0sX/X)
![This image shows damage that occurred during severe weather in Jacksboro, Texas, on Saturday, April 19, 2025.]()
Image 10 of 14This image shows damage that occurred during severe weather in Jacksboro, Texas, on Saturday, April 19, 2025. (@scr0sX/X)
![This image shows damage that occurred during severe weather in Jacksboro, Texas, on Saturday, April 19, 2025.]()
Image 11 of 14This image shows damage that occurred during severe weather in Jacksboro, Texas, on Saturday, April 19, 2025. (@scr0sX/X)
![Tornado damage in Ada, Oklahoma on April 19, 2025.]()
Image 12 of 14Tornado damage in Ada, Oklahoma on April 19, 2025. (Charlotte Rebecca Allen/Facebook)
![Tornado damage in Ada, Oklahoma on April 19, 2025.]()
Image 13 of 14Tornado damage in Ada, Oklahoma on April 19, 2025. (Charlotte Rebecca Allen/Facebook)
![Tornado damage in Ada, Oklahoma on April 19, 2025.]()
Image 14 of 14Tornado damage in Ada, Oklahoma on April 19, 2025. (Charlotte Rebecca Allen/Facebook)
In Leonard, a mother and her 7-year-old daughter were found dead after they were swept away by floodwaters. According to the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office, the two had been missing but were finally found Monday evening.
"Due to recent rains, area creeks and rivers are swollen, so we urge motorists to avoid driving through floodwaters," the sheriff's office said.
Likely tornado damage in Ada, Oklahoma
Video from Ada, Oklahoma shows damages at a local business after a possible tornado touchdown.
A tornado with a preliminary rating of EF-1 was also reported in Ada, Oklahoma, as the town was still recovering from an EF-1 tornado, which was part of a deadly March severe weather outbreak in the central U.S. The Ada tornado in March injured one person and displaced two dozen families.
Also in Oklahoma, a dramatic video recorded in the community of Durant showed vivid lightning illuminating the sky as heavy rain fell and sirens wailed Saturday night. Rob Dromgoole recorded the video while he was seeking shelter from the storm. The video continues from inside a tornado shelter, and you can still hear the sirens sounding as the storm moves overhead.
Watch: Tornado touches down near Hico, Texas
A dramatic video recorded near the community of Hico, Texas, shows a tornado touching down during severe weather on Saturday, April 19, 2025.
This weekend was active with storms, including tornadoes, in Texas on Saturday. In the above video, a tornado can be seen near Hico, Texas.
Watch: Tornado touches down in Texas amid weekend severe weather
A video recorded south of Sterling City, Texas, shows a tornado moving across the landscape during severe weather on Saturday, April 19, 2025.
Another video recorded south of Sterling City, Texas, showed a tornado moving across the landscape as the storms moved across the region Saturday.
SEVERE WEATHER THREAT RETURNS TO PLAINS THIS WEEK AFTER EASTER WEEKEND STORMS TURNED DEADLY
Funnel cloud in Missouri during Tornado Watch
A funnel cloud was spotted in Camdenton, Missouri on Sunday during tornado-warned storms.
Sunday's severe storms wreaked havoc on parts of Missouri and Arkansas, areas that have already seen several rounds of dangerous storms this spring.
A video shared from Central Missouri showed what appeared to be a funnel cloud trying to form during a tornado-warned storm.
Officials in Columbia and Boone County said they were responding to multiple reports of damage after severe weather Sunday. No injuries or fatalities have been reported.
According to Columbia Water and Light, all City of Columbia recycling has been suspended indefinitely due to the storms.
Watch: Torrential rain, strong winds pummel Arkansas during tornado-warned storm
A video shared from Benton, Arkansas, shows torrential rain and strong winds pummeling the area during a tornado-warned storm on Sunday, April 20, 2025.
In Arkansas, the Lonoke County Sheriff's Office said tornadoes were reported touching down, damaging homes and other structures. Numerous trees and power lines were also brought down during the severe weather.