Watching F-4 tornado South of Oklahoma City near Moore . Monday 3:30 p.m.

OHP is trying to close I-35 between I-240 and US-77 exit to the south. The first responders cannot reach the scene due to traffic gridlock in the area.

 

News showed arieal view of Moore , lots of TOTAL destruction , fires are breaking out and reported the local hospital has to be evacuated as a result of damage. Estimated at 50 square miles of destruction / damage and now ordering NEWS choppers out of the area as its hampering rescue crews from hearing cries for help.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nat...ing-america-heartland-video-article-1.1349229

 

I spent the night at the TA on Council Rd in OKC and my 10 couldn't finish soon enough. Around noon you could just tell trouble was brewing, and wouldn't you know it ended up being a mile wide monster. Thoughts go out to all those affected.

 

That was a devastating tornado that leveled Moore, OK. The initial death toll was higher but dropped down to at least 24 dead now. They said it leveled a school, a Target and a Home Depot that I heard of. I'm pretty sure they said it was an F5 with over 200 mph winds.

I went to school in OKC in 1984. I lived on the south side of town and seen a similar huge tornado about 5 miles south of where we were at. It was a scary eerie feeling for sure and looked just like that one. I couldn't imagine being in the path of one.

It's amazing all the video they have of it. Here's one that has a panoramic view of part of the damage. http://photoblog.nbcnews.com/_news/...oma-tornado-destruction?lite&ocid=msnhp&pos=2

 

For what it's worth, I've been sitting in the same KW dealer until last night watching the news pretty much non-stop (like there's anything better to do).

Aside from the obvious that's been noted here and on other internet news sources, drivers should beware of ongoing congestion in the section of I-35 near Moore for the next several days. Roads are clearing and the interstate was never actually blocked. However, emergency vehicle traffic and rubberneckers have I-35 at a crawl between I-240 and US-77 (mm-113 thru 121).