16 Tornadoes Hit Four States, Aftermath Damaged Buildings and Downed Trees Reported

Four states, including Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Nebraska, recorded at least 16 tornadoes. Damaged buildings and downed trees were among the aftermath reports.

On Thursday, the Plains saw more than a dozen tornadoes as tornadic storms raced across the heartland, causing devastation to at least one town.

According to KWCH12 News via AccuWeather, the tornado damage in Weskan, Kansas, on Thursday night included blowing out windows and trees in addition to a school's roof being partially removed. East of the Colorado-Kansas state line is where Weskan is situated. As of Thursday night, Weskan had no injuries recorded.

At Least 16 Tornadoes

Weskan School Principal Jeffrey Montero told KWCH 12 that while he was grateful and relieved that no one was hurt in the storm, graduation preparations are currently in doubt due to the school's devastation.

Montero claimed that the neighborhood had just finished adding new stands on the football field. The new bleachers would be used for graduation, which was scheduled to occur on the field this coming Saturday. However, the twister's damage rendered them useless. On Thursday afternoon, a rain-wrapped tornado was reported close to McDonald, Kansas, in another part of the state.

A spin-up in Gove County and a tornado near Edson, Kansas, which is situated about 15 miles southeast of Goodland, were among the other Kansas tornado reports. On Thursday night in Grady County, Oklahoma, a second tornado was officially deemed to have occurred. About 20 miles southwest of Oklahoma City, close to Tuttle, was where the tornado was officially sighted.

Another tornado was discovered nearby Cole, Oklahoma, just after 7:30 PM CDT. According to KFOR via AccuWeather, Interstate 35 was shut down to allow the tornado to pass without harming any moving vehicles. After a night of heavy storms and potential tornadoes, several communities south of Oklahoma City are waking up to destruction on Friday. As per a Facebook post, the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office was evaluating storm damage around the county.

According to The Weather Channel, Noble, a city located about 20 miles southeast of Oklahoma City, seems to have sustained the heaviest damage. Radar in the region has confirmed the presence of a tornado. A possible tornadic debris signature (TDS) was spotted in Hale on Thursday afternoon in Colorado. Spotters detected several tornadoes that were brief and were lifting and descending repeatedly in the area of Arapahoe.

In Dundy County, Nebraska, a potential tornado wrapped in rain was reported. On Thursday, a tornado was also present on the ground about 4 miles to the southwest of McCook, Nebraska. The Storm Prediction Center of the National Weather Service on Thursday published a list of at least 16 preliminary tornado reports.

Heavy Rain, Hail

Along with tornadoes, the Plains had severe rain and hail this week. In some places, two days' worth of rain was received, while in other places, hailstones were pelted. Nearly 10 inches of rain fell in Cherry Creek Reservoir State Park in Colorado from Tuesday afternoon to Thursday night. The park is about 9 miles southeast of Denver. On Twitter, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) posted images of the flooded streets, AccuWeather reports.