NEWCASTLE, Okla. (KFOR) — Officials are urging Oklahomans to be cautious after they shared a video of a police car that was struck by lightning in Newcastle on Monday afternoon.
The video posted on social media by Newcastle Emergency Management shows a parked police car that was struck by lightning during Monday’s severe storms.
Fortunately, the car was unoccupied and no one was hurt, but Newcastle officials say this is a reminder to stay sheltered and weather aware.
“Just minutes ago, lightning struck a Newcastle police car during the storms. No one was hurt, but that could’ve been anyone,” reads the caption of the post. “If you hear thunder, you’re close enough to get hit. Get inside, stay away from trees and metal, and unplug electronics until the storm passes. Take lightning seriously every time.”
More storms and tornadoes plowed through the central U.S. on Monday, ripping apart buildings and knocking out power as people from Texas to Kentucky continued to clean up from days of severe weather that killed more than two dozen people and destroyed thousands of homes and buildings.
At least four tornadoes were confirmed in Oklahoma and Nebraska on Monday evening, according to a preliminary report from the National Weather Service.
Across Oklahoma, at least 10 homes were destroyed and multiple buildings were damaged, including a fire station that was wiped out, according to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management. A spokesperson for the agency said they have not received any reports of injuries or deaths.
Around 115,000 customers were without power in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri, according to PowerOutage.us.
Parts of several highways were also closed due to flooding or storm damage.
In northwest Arkansas, severe weather caused a Halsey concert to be canceled and a municipal airport had to close temporarily Monday night so crews could remove debris from the field. And in Oklahoma, Tulsa Public Schools canceled all afterschool activities.
Northern Texas saw softball-sized hail measuring 4 1/2 inches (11.4 centimeters) in diameter, according to Scott Kleebauer, a meteorologist with the service’s Weather Prediction Center.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
