NWS: Deadly tornado that slammed Barnsdall, Okla. rated an EF4

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP and KWCH) - Update: The National Weather Service in Tulsa confirmed an EF4 rating for a Monday night tornado that slammed the small town of Barnsdall in northeastern Oklahoma. Officials confirmed at least one death after the tornado that destroyed several buildings and more than 30 homes.

Tornadoes touched down Monday evening in rural Oklahoma and large hail pelted parts of Kansas as an outbreak of dangerous storms brought the possibility of strong twisters staying on the ground for miles.

Forecasters issued a rare high-risk weather warning for the two states.

“You can’t rely on waiting to see tornadoes before sheltering tonight,” the National Weather Service said.

At least four tornadoes had been spotted in north central Oklahoma, including one about a 45-minute drive north of Tulsa. The National Weather Service office there issued a tornado emergency alert Monday night for the nearby towns of Bartlesville, Dewey and Barnsdall. Tulsa, Okla. stations reported a large tornado hit Barnsdall Monday night, causing extensive damage. Spotters reported the destruction of several houses.

Meanwhile, apple-sized hail of 3 inches (7.62 centimeters) in diameter was reported near Ellinwood, Kansas, a town of about 2,000 residents 100 miles (161 kilometers) northwest of Wichita. There were also several reports of golf-ball-sized hail in a few areas including in the Claflin area in Barton County and near Smith Center, in Smith County.

Ahead of the storms Monday, the Weather Service said that more than 3.4 million people, 1,614 schools and 159 hospitals in Oklahoma, portions of southern Kansas and far north Texas, faced the most severe threat for tornadoes. The worst of these storms stayed south of Kansas. As of late Monday night, there were no confirmed tornado reports in the Sunflower State.