A powerful outbreak of severe weather is sweeping across the central United States, killing two people in Oklahoma and putting millions more on high alert.
Meteorologists are warning of “monstrous hail” and a threat of tornado on Friday March 6, 2026.
The threat began on the night of Thursday, March 5, with storms devastating the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma.
Confirming the number of victims, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt confirmed that a mother and her 13-year-old daughter were killed in Major County.
As reported by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the two men were found in a vehicle near Fairview around 10 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 in parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas.
Officials confirm more than 7 million people are in the highest risk zone, including those in the Kansas City, Tulsa and Omaha metro areas.
Meteorologists also warned that atmospheric conditions are ideal for producing supercell thunderstorms that can generate hail larger than 3 inches in diameter.
As a result, a “monster hail” warning is issued with wind gusts above 80 mph and strong tornadoes.
The NWS also said the greatest potential for strong tornadoes would exist from eastern Oklahoma and Kansas to western Missouri and Arkansas during the late afternoon and evening.
Overnight, weather conditions are expected to persist through Saturday, March 7, with the main dangers shifting to damaging winds across the South and the Great Lakes.
