Tornado Rips Off Oklahoma Casino's Roof During Beach Boys Show

NORMAN, OK — Part of the roof covering the Riverwind Casino in Norman was ripped off by an EF1 tornado as the Beach Boys performed a concert Saturday. A batch of severe storms spawned the twister, downing power lines and trees throughout the state, emergency managers said Sunday.

The twister touched down in Cleveland County. National Weather Service officials were surveying damage in that county and several others after reports that up to four tornadoes had touched down late Saturday. No injuries were reported.

Gov. Mary Fallin was among those who attended the Beach Boys show and told KWTV there was "this huge flood of rain coming through the roof." She had to evacuate the casino twice. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Watch: OKC TV Crew In Twister: 'That's A Tornado, Dude'

Casino operators said in a statement Sunday they had no time to alert guests before the storm struck the property because it happened at the same time that the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for the area. The casino lost power and sections of the property remain shuttered as repairs are made, spokeswoman Kym Koch said. Reservations were canceled through at least Tuesday, she said.

"Like all Oklahomans, we know that weather events such as this can hit without warning and unfortunately, that is what happened at Riverwind last night," Koch said.

Meteorologists classify an EF1 tornado as one capable of producing winds up to 110 mph, said Keli Cain, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management. She said other businesses, including a hotel, also were damaged along with cars and trucks during the storms.

National Weather Service meteorologist John Pike said officials were surveying Tillman, Comanche, McClain and Seminole counties, where the tornadoes and damage were reported. Forecasters had issued eight tornado warnings as the storms developed Saturday evening ahead of a cold front.

Since most of the storms hit rural or remote areas, widespread damage was minimal, Pike said.

"Anytime we walk away like that, you can say we dodged a bullet," he said.

He said the weather is expected to change again heading into the coming weekend, when the state could see its coldest temperatures yet this year and parts of southwestern and western Oklahoma might possibly get their first freeze.

Photo credit: Steve Sisney/The Oklahoman via AP