Violent thunderstorms kill 6 in Oklahoma, Kansas

Violent thunderstorms kill 6 in Oklahoma, Kansas

A half-mile-wide tornado moves north in Canadian County after having just crossed SH-3, the Northwest Expressway, west of SH-4 moving towards Piedmont, Okla. Tuesday, May 24, 2011.

EL RENO, Okla. (AP) -- A line of violent thunderstorms roared across middle America on Tuesday, killing six people in two states, with several tornadoes touching down in Oklahoma and high winds pounding rural Kansas.

The high-powered storms arrived as forecast, just two days after a massive tornado tore through the southwest Missouri town of Joplin and killed 122 people.

Several tornadoes struck Oklahoma City and its suburbs during rush hour, killing at least four people and injuring at least 60 others, including three children who were in critical condition, authorities said.

Cherokee Ballard, a spokeswoman for the state medical examiner, said four people died west of Oklahoma City in Canadian County, where a weather-monitoring site in El Reno recorded 151 mph winds. She did not have any immediate details about the deaths.

In Kansas, police said two people died when high winds threw a tree into their van around 6 p.m. near the small town of St. John, about 100 miles west of Wichita. The highway was shut down because of storm damage.

More severe weather was expected after nightfall as the storms continued east.

"Unfortunately, this event will likely continue for some time," Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin said. "I am asking all Oklahomans to stay aware of the weather and to take proper precautions to keep themselves out of harm's way."

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management spokeswoman Michelann Ooten said at least 60 people were injured in the evening storms. Three children suffered major injuries in Piedmont west of Oklahoma City, according to Lara O'Leary, a spokeswoman for the region's Emergency Medical Service Authority.

The line of storms began about 3 p.m. in Oklahoma and followed tracks greater than 40 miles into the state's capital city before continuing on toward Tulsa. Oklahoma state offices and many businesses let workers leave hours earlier to get out of harm's way.

"We hope that helped save lives," Fallin said.

Storm clouds also spawned funnel clouds and at least one tornado around North Texas, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.