Tornadoes threaten nine million in US
AAP
Tornadoes bearing down on Dallas and central Kansas have injured at least 13 people as severe weather “grazed” the US state of Oklahoma.
Reports by US media confirmed 13 people were injured when a tornado tore through a mobile home park in Oklahoma City, CNN reported.
There were no immediate reports of fatalities, but trees and buildings are damaged, as residents sheltered underground,Great Plains states officials said.
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The Weather Channel said at least 29 tornado sightings had been reported across the states of Kansas, Nebraska, Texas and in Oklahoma, with multiple homes destroyed in Oklahoma.
The tornadoes flipped cars, downed power lines and snapped trees.
An off-shore weather system moving north adjacent to the states of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina also threatened storms for coastal residents, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported.
Tigers and other animals were able to briefly escape from the Tiger Safari park after a tornado struck the city of Tuttle, about 48kms south-west of Oklahoma City.
The animals were later recaptured without further incident, the Grady County Sheriff’s Office said.
The NOAA National Weather Service has predicted severe thunderstorms from central Texas to southern Nebraska.
“Very large hail is the main threat, although damaging winds and a tornado or two cannot be ruled out,” the NWS reported.
Videos of tornadoes in Lincoln, Kansas have been posted to YouTube and show roofs being torn apart.
Qantas has regular scheduled services to Dallas Fort Worth airport but a spokeswoman for Qantas said no flights to Dallas were affected yet.
The company has been monitoring the situation, the spokeswoman said.
SEE: rolling coverage including radar tracking of the storms hitting the centre of the United States here.
If you are in #Norman, #OK, you need to take cover now! Dangerous #tornado coming your way! http://t.co/sdtTd06St0 pic.twitter.com/JkC4cWO2nr
— Weather Underground (@wunderground) May 6, 2015
– with agencies