One Person Injured in Texas; Flash Flooding Strands Drivers and Impacts Homes in Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado

May 7,2015


 
Another round of severe storms crossed parts of the Midwest and Great Plains Thursday, injuring one in Texas and causing flash flooding that stranded drivers and inundated homes in a handful of states.
Flash flooding caused hazardous conditions during the Thursday afternoon commute in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Flash flooding also likely caused the back up of raw sewage in a Harrah, Oklahoma, home, where the owner experienced running water for hours.
"We are really in between major upper-atmospheric disturbances today, and that is why today's severe weather is likely to be less tornadic than Wednesday," said weather.com senior meteorologist Nick Wiltgen. "However, the unstable air and rich tropical moisture are still in place, as they have been, so serious flooding remains a big worry along with pockets of wind damage and large hail."
(FORECAST: Severe Thunderstorm Watches in Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas)

Colorado

Flash flooding and hail impacted roads in northwest El Paso County, Colorado, Thursday afternoon, KOAA-TV reported. Flooding made for a difficult afternoon commute for several Colorado Springs motorists.
A lightning strike left hundreds of residents in northwest Colorado Springs without power late Thursday afternoon, KOAA said.
Up to eight inches of hail were dumped on Colorado Springs Thursday afternoon, and plows were out in full force clearing the mess from Interstate 25, KUSA-TV said. Greeley, Colorado, closed trails as inclement weather impacted the area.

Oklahoma

Flooding likely caused three inches of raw sewage to back up into a Harrah, Oklahoma, family's home Thursday, Oklahoma's News 9 reported. Donald Fritts, the owner of the 1920s style home, told News 9, "I come home from the airport last night, and I hear running water. I come in here and open the door and all I see is three inches of running water." Sewage was overflowing from the toilet and bathtub.
Flash flooding inundated homes and low water crossings in Comanche County, Oklahoma, Thursday evening, the National Weather Service said. Flooding was observed in Jackson County, as well.
A vacant, century-old building in Anadarko, Oklahoma, collapsed Thursday after heavy rains accumulated on the structure's roof, News 9 reported. The building once housed a furniture company but was abandoned after being damaged by a 2009 tornado.

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6:57 PM - 7 May 2015

The Oklahoma Office of Emergency Management remained activated Thursday as severe storms continue to roll through the state.

Texas

One person sustained a leg injury during Thursday's severe storms, Jeff Doughty of the Wise County Sheriff's Office told The Weather Channel Thursday night.
Strong thunderstorms winds also severely damaged four to five mobile homes in Rhome, Texas, Thursday night, local storm reports said. A double-wide trailer and RVs were destroyed earlier in the evening.
Flooding was observed in Wise, Jack and Cooke counties Thursday night. Motorists were also stranded by flash flooding in Whitesboro, Texas, the National Weather Service reported.
The roof of a gymnasium at Reagan Elementary School in Quanah, Texas, collapsed after heavy rains pounded the area, local storm reports said. No was injured as the building was unoccupied at the time.
MORE: Severe Storms Hammer the Plains - May 6, 2015