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WEATHER
National Weather Service

Tornadoes roar across the Plains

Doyle Rice
USA TODAY
First responders work to remove a passenger from a truck involved in an accident on Interstate 35 during severe weather in Moore, Okla., Wednesday, May 6, 2015.

Multiple tornadoes blasted portions of the central and southern Plains Wednesday, with storms in Oklahoma shutting down highways, delaying flights and sending debris flying.

Separate tornadoes hit central Kansas, central Oklahoma, and Nebraska, according to the National Weather Service. Late Wednesday night, tornado warnings also were issued for Southern Clay County, Bluegrove and Buffalo Springs, Texas, accordin to the weather agency.

There were multiple twisters in and around Oklahoma City, twice forcing temporary evacuation of the Will Rogers Airport. High water was reported near the airport late Wednesday night, according to Oklahoma City government. Officials said rising flood water was the main threat as rain continued.

Oklahoma City government issued a Tweet Wednesday night saying that a flash flood emergency, the first ever in the city, had been declared by the weather service. "Deadly and dangerous. Do not drive,'' it said.

The government tweeted that there were reports of flooding at government buildings downtown, including police headquarters and municipal courts.

Forecasters declared a tornado emergency for Moore, Okla., where 24 people died in a storm two years ago, but Wednesday's storm lacked the same punch as the 2013 storm. No injuries were reported; television video showed brick facades off some buildings but no widespread destruction.

There were no immediate reports of injuries. Weather forecasters said more storms were possible later in the week.

"People just really need to stay weather aware, have a plan and understand that severe storms are possible across portions of the southern Plains almost daily through Saturday," National Weather Service meteorologist Jonathan Kurtz said.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado emergency for the Oklahoma towns of Newcastle and Bridge Creek, on the edge of the Oklahoma City area. Meteorologist Michael Scotten with the weather service in Norman said the designation means there is the possibility of a large tornado that could lead to significant damage and deaths.

Grady County, Okla., Emergency Management Director Dale Thompson said about 10 homes were destroyed in Amber and 25 were destroyed in Bridge Creek.

Charmaine Foraker looks out over the farmhouse she grew up in at her family's farmstead near Bentley, Kan., that was destroyed by a tornado Wednesday.

Portions of Interstate 44 and I-35 in Oklahoma were closed temporarily due to storm debris in the roadway

Oklahoma Turnpike Authority spokesman Jack Damrill said I-44 was closed from Chickasha to Newcastle. Oklahoma Highway Patrol spokesman Lt. John Vincent said I-35 was closed at Tecumseh Road in Norman because of power lines down.

Oklahoma City airport spokeswoman Karen Carney says several hundred people were moved from the terminal into a tunnel shortly after 5 p.m. Passengers were allowed to return to the terminal a short time later. She said that as of shortly after 6 p.m. the airlines were working to resume flights. Another storm later prompted a second temporary evacuation.

There were multiple reports of tornadoes in Nebraska. Ten to 15 homes were hit in Roseland, Neb., and a house in Lincoln County, Kan., was reported hit, according to local law enforcement. In Harvey County, Neb., a tornado destroyed a hog barn and damaged trees, according to the National Weather Service.

A large area of the Plains was under a tornado watch for the remainder of the evening, meaning conditions are ripe for more tornadoes to form.

This is the second day in a row with severe weather in the central U.S. There were seven reports of tornadoes in Texas on Tuesday.

Contributing: William M. Welch in Los Angeles; Associated Press

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