Tornado warning sets off storm sirens in Sallisaw

Severe thunderstorms rolled through western Sequoyah County late Monday afternoon, triggering tornado sirens in Sallisaw for about 10 minutes as heavy black clouds churned toward Marble City.

At 4:06 p.m., the National Weather Service in Tulsa issued a tornado warning for central Sequoyah County and southeastern Adair County, which was scheduled to last until 4:45 p.m.

When the tornado warning was initiated, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located three miles southwest of Sallisaw, moving northeast at 35 mph. Radar indicated rotation, the NWS reported.

Tornado sirens in Sallisaw sounded from about 4:10 to 4:20 p.m. before going silent. The sirens were again activated for about three minutes beginning at 4:29 p.m. when even darker, more ominous storm clouds were visible north of Sallisaw. A temperature of 81 only helped intensify the storms.

By 4:35 p.m., skies were dark as night, and streetlights activated throughout the city.

Rain chances and threats of storms remain in the Sequoyah County forecast through midday Tuesday.