Sirens sound, more damage in Cole

Tornado sirens sounded just after 8 p.m. last Thursday night and sounded off and on for about 30 minutes.

Once again, Cole was hit by the storm that plucked huge trees out of the ground like they were turnips.

One home was destroyed at 260th and Western, McClain County Sheriff Landy Offolter said.

Purcell Fire Chief Greg Cypert, who is one of the spotters said he was told there were two but he only saw one.

Emergency Management Director Rachael Huey, who is a spotter for Purcell, reported there were several the National Weather Service is assessing.

Another spotter, Offolter, said there were at last two confirmed tornadoes, one just south of Newcastle near Cole, Washington and Dibble and one between Rosedale and Byars.

Offolter reported no damage in Newcastle.

The town of Noble was not as fortunate with the town taking a direct hit that knocked out power and damaged structures.

There was little to no rain in the storm and no hail fell in Purcell.

Purcell measured a scant .1” of rain from the storm.

But in the days since the tornado out-break, Purcell has done better in the collection of precipitation. On Friday 1.5” was recorded followed by .9” on Saturday and .4” on Sunday.

That brings the year-to-date total here to 13.6”.

So far, 10.91” has been recorded in Oklahoma City at Will Rogers World Airport.

The normal year-to-date total is 11.11”.

This same time last year Purcell had recorded 19.6”.

The damage in Cole was nearly in the same path the April 19 twister roared through.

There was also some roof damage to houses in Goldsby, Offolter  said.

Oklahoma City television stations reported there were 11-15 total tornadoes in the state last Thursday night.

Pea-size hail was reported in Purcell around 3 a.m. Saturday.

Additional rain is predicted for Thursday and especially Friday with the chance of some storms.