A severe line of weather stretching from Oklahoma City to St. Louis has kept the cable news channels in extended coverage tonight and destroyed at least one Tornado Hunt truck operated by the Weather Channel.
Meteorologist Mike Bettes and his crew of two were in the truck that was thrown about 200 yards by a twister. Storm chaser Sean Schofer stopped to help and on Twitter writes, “They are OK.” The Weather Channel says Bettes and the two others were wearing seat belts and were able to walk away from the wreck.
On Fox News, Shepard Smith began continuous coverage during his 7pm show and continued until 11pmET, preempting Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity and Greta Van Susteren’s shows. Kelly Wright and Heather Childers picked up at 11pm and will stay on until 2amET. On CNN, meteorologist Chad Myers has been chasing the storms for several days in Oklahoma and contributed to primetime shows anchored by Jake Tapper at 7pm, Anderson Cooper at 8 and 10pm and Piers Morgan at 9. MSNBC simulcast KFOR in Oklahoma City and KSDK in St. Louis for much of the night with NBC meteorolgist Dylan Dyer in studio with Chris Hayes at 8, Rachel Maddow at 9 and Milissa Rehberger at 10.
The network evening newscasts all updated their shows for the West Coast. ABC included an update on “20/20” at 10pmET and coverage from meteorologist Ginger Zee who is also a storm chaser.
The @weatherchannel vehicle just got thrown by tornado. We stopped to help & they are OK. @jimcantore twitter.com/SeanSchoferTVN…
— Sean Schofer (@SeanSchoferTVN) June 1, 2013