UPDATE: 4 dead, dozens injured in Oklahoma tornadoes

A half-mile-wide tornado moves north in Canadian County after having just crossed SH-3, the Northwest Expressway, west of SH-4 moving towards Piedmont, Okla. Tuesday, May 24, 2011.
A half-mile-wide tornado moves north in Canadian County after having just crossed SH-3, the Northwest Expressway, west of SH-4 moving towards Piedmont, Okla. Tuesday, May 24, 2011.

— Several tornadoes struck Oklahoma City and its suburbs during rush hour Tuesday, killing at least four people and injuring dozens of others, including three children who were in critical condition, authorities said.

Cherokee Ballard, a spokeswoman for the state medical examiner, said four people died west of Oklahoma City in Canadian County, where a weather-monitoring site in El Reno recorded 151 mph winds. She did not have any immediate details about the deaths.

The storms hit just two days after a massive tornado destroyed much of the southwest Missouri town of Joplin, killing 122 in the deadliest single tornado to touch down since the National Weather Service began keeping official records in 1950.

Forecasters predicted a high risk of more severe weather beyond nightfall.

“Unfortunately, this event will likely continue for some time,” Gov. Mary Fallin said. “I am asking all Oklahomans to stay aware of the weather and to take proper precautions to keep themselves out of harm’s way.”

State Department of Emergency Management spokeswoman Michelann Ooten said at least 60 people were injured in the evening storms. Three children suffered major injuries in Piedmont, according to Lara O’Leary, a spokeswoman for the region’s Emergency Medical Service Authority.

The Oklahoma storms began about 3 p.m. and followed tracks greater than 40 miles into the state capital before continuing on to Tulsa and headed again for Joplin, Mo. State offices and many businesses let workers leave hours earlier to get out of harm’s way.

“We hope that helped save lives,” Fallin said.

The storms on the city’s southern side followed a path similar to one that hit the region May 3, 1999. With winds over 300 mph, that tornado was the strongest storm ever recorded.

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