Tornadoes Rake Southern Plains         05/19 08:43

   A spate of tornadoes raked across the Southern Plains, leaving damage and 
causing few injuries, and parts of the region were bracing for more severe 
thunderstorms and possible flooding.

   DALLAS (AP) -- A spate of tornadoes raked across the Southern Plains, 
leaving damage and causing few injuries, and parts of the region were bracing 
for more severe thunderstorms and possible flooding.

   The National Weather Service confirmed an EF2 twister Saturday morning with 
winds up to 130 mph (209 kph) that destroyed at least two homes and left one 
person with minor injuries in southwestern Oklahoma.

   A suspected tornado caused roof damage to "numerous" homes in northwestern 
Arkansas, a state official said, and severe winds downed trees and power lines 
across a highway, blocking all lanes.

   Energy companies in Oklahoma and Arkansas reported tens of thousands of 
customers were without power Saturday afternoon.

   Tornadoes touched down Friday in Kansas and rural parts of Nebraska, tearing 
up trees and powerlines, and damaging some homes and farm buildings, according 
to the National Weather Service.

   In Abilene, Texas, a city 150 miles (240 kilometers) west of Fort Worth, 
strong winds prompted the evacuation of a nursing home and left numerous homes 
and businesses damaged, according to the Abilene Reporter-News . A spokeswoman 
for the city said no deaths or serious injuries were reported.

   The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch until 8 p.m. Saturday 
for the western half of Arkansas. Portions of North Texas also were under a 
tornado watch and a flash flood warning was issued in the Dallas area Saturday 
afternoon.

   Forecasters warned of heavy rain, lightning, pingpong ball-sized hail and 
flooding as a line of storms moves west to east through afternoon, covering an 
area from south of Killeen, Texas, to north of the Oklahoma state line.

   In Oklahoma City, thunderstorms prevented workers from securing and removing 
glass from Devon Tower, which was damaged Wednesday when a scaffolding holding 
two window washers banged against the building, The Oklahoman reported. 
Officials said the rain and winds blew broken glass from the tower and 
compromised the integrity of other panes.


(KA)