Near hurricane force winds

70 m.p.h. winds and torrential rain hammered parts of the Heart of Oklahoma Tuesday morning knocking out power and damaging trees.

The near hurricane type storm knocked over a huge tree blocking the road around the Purcell City Lake, damaged limbs and trees all over the area and caused the electricity to go out for 68 minutes.

Electricity was out in Lexington for 95 minutes.

The powerful storm was packed with lightning and dumped up to 3.4” of rain on the area.

Emergency Management Director  Kevin Rhoads reported three power poles were damaged which caused the power outage to last longer in some parts of town.

Coupled with the .9” that was recorded here last Thursday, the total for the year-to-date in Purcell is 25.2”.

According to the Oklahoma Mesonet, Washington recorded  1.75” of rain while Byars received 2.26”.

Oklahoma City has recorded 14.14” so far this year with the normal year-to-date total for this date 15.3”.

Additional rain is forecast for the remainder of the week through Friday.