OKLAHOMA CITY — Severe thunderstorms and torrential rains pounded Oklahoma and North Texas on Wednesday, causing flash flooding that killed at least two people, paralyzed transportation, and forced the evacuation of several residents. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania continued to deal with the aftermath of a destructive storm that killed three people and knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of homes.
In Oklahoma, authorities confirmed the deaths of two people, both trapped in their vehicles swept away by floodwaters. One of the tragedies occurred in Pottawatomie County, where Sheriff Freeland Wood reported that one of his deputies attempted to rescue a motorist who was swept away by the floodwaters, only to become trapped himself. The deputy escaped with minor injuries. The other death occurred in neighboring Lincoln County, according to the Highway Patrol.
Several roads were closed, particularly in Comanche County, where three emergency shelters were opened. In Oklahoma City, April became the wettest month on record, with nearly 30,3 inches of rain, surpassing the 1947 record. The monthly state record of 21,1 inches, set in 1942, was also on the verge of being broken, according to climatologist Gary McManus.
North Texas was also heavily affected, particularly the Dallas area, where thunderstorms caused the cancellation of hundreds of flights at the city's two main airports, Dallas-Fort Worth and Love Field, according to the FAA.
In Pennsylvania, a line of severe thunderstorms swept through the state Tuesday evening, causing significant power outages. More than 425 customers were affected, including 000 at Pittsburgh-based Duquesne Light, which described the damage as “unprecedented.” Nearly 325 homes remained without power Wednesday evening. The company called in 000 additional technicians to speed up the restoration of power.
Three deaths have been confirmed in the state. A 22-year-old man was electrocuted in State College while trying to put out a mulch fire near a utility pole. In Pittsburgh, another person was also electrocuted by downed wires. A third man, a 67-year-old, was killed by an uprooted tree in Ross Township, a suburb of Pittsburgh.
The National Weather Service observed wind gusts ranging from 130 to 145 mph (114 to XNUMX km/h), more powerful than those associated with many weak tornadoes. At Pittsburgh International Airport, a gust of XNUMX mph (XNUMX km/h) was recorded, the third-strongest ever recorded at the site. These violent winds came from a weather phenomenon called a “bow echo,” an arcing line of thunderstorms with particularly intense winds at its center.
Weather service crews surveyed the damage in Wilkinsburg, near Pittsburgh, but did not confirm the presence of a tornado.
With thunderstorms expected to continue in the southern United States through Thursday, officials are urging people to be cautious about the risk of flash flooding and strong winds, particularly in already vulnerable areas.
