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By Sophie Clark
Live News Reporter
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A tornado has touched down in Southwestern Oklahoma, ripping through the area near Granite, a town of about 1,600, according to ABC news.
Tornado warnings were issued across Western Oklahoma and were due to be in place until 5:30 am CST Monday.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has observed thunderstorms capable of causing tornadoes gathering in the area.
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All 14 counties on high alert are Canadian, Cleveland, Grady, McClain, Oklahoma, Carter, Garvin, Jefferson, Love, Murray, Stephens, Caddo, Comanche, and Cotton.
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On its website, the NWS urged Oklahomans in these areas to "TAKE COVER NOW!"
The service said that citizens are encouraged to: "Move to a storm shelter, safe room or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris."
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The NWS has also warned Oklahomans of "golf ball" sized hail, and potential damage to mobile homes, roofs, windows and vehicles".
The NWS station in Norman, Oklahoma, has warned that "Localized heavy rainfall/flash flooding is also possible" as well as tornadoes.
Per PowerOutage.us, in Greer County, where Granite is located, only one person is currently without power.
Oklahoma is in the path of 'Tornado Alley' meaning that tornadoes are an expected occurrence in the area due to its unique combination of air mass, warmth, and thunderstorms.
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AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Kottlowski explained to AccuWeather that dry air from the Mexican Plateau combining with moist air from the Gulf of Mexico combine to form thunderstorms which are a precursor to tornados.
What makes this area especially vulnerable is that the air then moves in a counter-clockwise flow due to the natural flow of air from the Rocky Mountains, resulting in spinning and turning tornadoes.
Some Texan counties are also on high alert for storms this morning, with the three counties of Archer, Clay and Wichita all being placed under the same tornado watch.
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Towns in Oklahoma have already been hit badly by tornadoes this month, with the Oklahoma Police Department (OKPD) telling Newsweek on November 3 that areas of Oklahoma City sustained "major damage," after thunderstorms and tornados that night resulted in some residents needing assistance to leave their homes which were badly damaged in the storms.
After those storms earlier in the month, 55,000 people were left without power, and Red Cross Oklahoma opened shelters for people left without shelter or power.
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