More than a dozen tornadoes touch down in a day
By Paul P. Murphy and Meg Wagner, CNN
Updated 2:41 p.m. ET, May 21, 2019
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Hail close to the size of an actual baseball spotted in Wellington, Texas
From CNN's Amanda Jackson
A possible tornado forms near Paducah, Texas
From CNN's Amanda Jackson
This is what the hail looks like in Wyandotte, Oklahoma
From CNN's Christina Zdanowicz
Hail pounded on the windows and strong winds whipped past a parking lot in Wyandotte, Oklahoma, on Monday around 1 p.m. local time.
Jessica Leigh Rice caught the moment on video.
"The [wind] was so strong that the water actually got in the first set of doors. It was crazy strong wind and hail and fast moving!" she wrote on Facebook.
Watch more:
Do not seek shelter under overpasses during tornadoes
Contrary to popular belief, overpasses are not safe places to seek shelter during tornadoes.
Overpasses do not offer any real protection from flying debris, and vehicles under them are at risk of having a tornado's winds carry them off.
Oklahoma Emergency officials warned residents that stopping under an overpass creates an even more dangerous situation:
Oklahoma Emergency Management says when people stop under an overpass, it prevents emergency vehicles from passing and it cuts off potential escape routes.
They encourage people to plan ahead and be somewhere that actually has a safe shelter.
Schools in Tulsa and Norman are closed today
Norman, Oklahoma, schools are closed today as the area prepares for possible severe weather.
"Out of an abundance of caution, schools will be closed Monday, May 20," the district said in a statement posted to their Facebook page. "Student safety is our top priority and we must make the best possible decision with the information we have available from weather experts to protect our students."
Tulsa also closed all of the schools in the district:
Oklahoma City does not have public shelters. Here's why.
From CNN's Chuck Johnson
The city of Oklahoma City does not have public tornado shelters.
The city said one of the reasons for this is concern about traffic getting to public shelters.
Here's more on Oklahoma City's website:
Being in a vehicle is one of the most dangerous places to be in a tornado, and risking a drive to a shelter during severe weather could be deadly. Many deaths attributable to tornadoes are attributed to being in a vehicle.
Traffic congestion from hundreds or thousands of other residents trying to get to public shelters could have tragic consequences.
Airlines are canceling flights out of Oklahoma City
Some airlines are already canceling flights into and out of Oklahoma City before the severe storms hit.
Will Rogers Airport said some airlines are waiving change fees and are urging travelers to contact their air carrier for more information.
Texas governor sets aside state resources in case of tornadoes
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has placed numerous resources on standby across the state in preparation for an outbreak of severe weather — including a high threat for tornadoes — expected to hit the state today.
The Governor has also ordered the Texas State Operations Center to Level III (which means increased readiness) for this weather event.
Oklahoma City is under a "PDS" tornado watch. Here's what that means.
From CNN's Brandon Miller
A Particularly Dangerous Situation tornado watch has been issued for much of Western and Central Oklahoma, including the entire Oklahoma City metro area, until 10 p.m. local time.
Why you keep seeing the term "PDS": The Particularly Dangerous Situation enhanced wording is a rare designation from the Storm Prediction Center given to some tornado watches. It indicates that a widespread, significant severe weather event featuring long-lived, intense tornadoes is likely.
The enhanced wording from the Storm Prediction Center says that “an outbreak of tornadoes, including the risk of intense and long-track tornadoes, is expected to develop this afternoon across the watch area.”
Probabilities for tornadoes, severe wind over 75 mph and hail larger than 2 inches are all greater than 95% — the highest chances possible.