A powerful severe weather outbreak is sweeping through the central United States, claiming the lives of two people in Oklahoma and threatening millions more on high alert.
Forecasters are announcing “monster hail” and a tornado threat on Friday, March 6, 2026.
The threat began the night of Thursday, March 5, with storms hitting the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma.
Confirming the victims, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt confirmed that a mother and her 13-year-old daughter died in Major County.
According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the couple was found in a vehicle near Fairview around 10:00 p.m. (local time).
The National Weather Service (NWS) also warned that Friday’s forecast is even more dire. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Level 3 risk for severe thunderstorms for parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas.
Officials confirm that more than 7 million people are in the highest risk area, including those in the Kansas City, Tulsa and Omaha metropolitan areas.
Forecasters also warned that atmospheric conditions are ideal for producing supercell storms that can generate hail more than 3 inches in diameter.
Therefore, a “monster hail” warning is in place with wind gusts over 80 mph and strong tornadoes.
The NWS also reported that the greatest potential for strong tornadoes will exist from eastern Oklahoma and Kansas to western Missouri and Arkansas during the late afternoon and evening hours.
Overnight, atmospheric conditions are expected to persist through Saturday, March 7, with the primary hazards shifting to damaging winds across the South and into the Great Lakes.
