Tornado emergency declared as 'catastrophic' twister kills one with map showing US areas that could also be hit

A devastating tornado tore through Barnsdall, Oklahoma, on Monday night, claiming at least one life and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, with these maps showing the areas where severe weather is forecast to hit in the coming days.

As the night unfolded, intense supercell thunderstorms battered the region, unleashing tornadoes, giant hail, and damaging winds. A Tornado Emergency was declared for Osage County, Oklahoma, the most severe tornado warning. Around 30,000 people are reported to have lost power. The tornado, described as up to two miles wide, inflicted catastrophic damage in Barnsdall, with about a third of the small city affected.

Emergency responders rushed to the scene, combing through the wreckage in search of injured individuals. In addition to the loss of one life, multiple people were injured and hospitalized as the tornado ripped through the area, even lifting the roof off a nursing home, reports the Express US .

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"I can only imagine what this is going to look like in the morning," a reporter said on FOX Weather .

The tornado is part of a wider severe weather outbreak that has gripped the central United States, with multiple tornadoes reported and millions of people under tornado watches across several states.

Reports emerged of significant damage to buildings in various areas, with towns like Minden, Iowa, also experiencing the wrath of the storm. The central US continues to be on high alert as severe weather conditions persist into Tuesday morning, with tornado watches extending across several states.

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The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued warnings about the potential for intense, long-track tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds, urging residents to stay vigilant. This recent outbreak of severe weather marks the first High-Risk designation by the SPC in Oklahoma since 2019.

The threat is expected to shift eastward on Wednesday, putting millions more at risk of severe thunderstorms and further exacerbating the already dire situation across the region.

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