Alert archive / Oklahoma / Flash Flood Warnings in 1999

Flash Flood Warning 34, NWS Tulsa, OK

April 26, 1999Craig County, Ottawa County, Oklahoma

NWS Tulsa, OK issued this flash flood warning at Apr 26, 1999, 1:49 PM CDT for Craig County, Ottawa County, Oklahoma. It was in force for 116 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline the Iowa Environmental Mesonet reconstructed for it; the warning itself named whole counties.

The facts

Issued
Apr 26, 1999, 1:49 PM CDT (18:49 UTC)
Expired
Apr 26, 1999, 3:45 PM CDT
In force
116 min
Issued by
NWS Tulsa, OK
Area
Whole counties; the outline is the Mesonet’s reconstruction

Counties Craig County, OK, Ottawa County, OK

The radar

The Tulsa radar (KINX), 85 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:51 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Springfield, MO (KSGF), launched 12:00Z, 6.8 hours before the alert went out and 115 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Springfield, MO at 12:00Z on 1999-04-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 248 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Springfield, MO at 12:00Z on 1999-04-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 106 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
248 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-13 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
477 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
106 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
137 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KTSA 261855
FFWTUL
OKC035-115-262045-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
149 PM CDT MON APR 26 1999

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR
  CRAIG COUNTY IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
  OTTAWA COUNTY IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA

* UNTIL 345 PM CDT

* AT 149 PM CDT RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN 
CONTINUING ACROSS ALL OF CRAIG AND OTTAWA COUNTIES. AUTOMATED RAIN 
GAGE REPORTS INDICATE THAT 1 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN HAVE FALLEN THIS 
MORNING. THIS WAS IN ADDITION TO THE HEAVY RAIN WHICH FELL SUNDAY. 

ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF UP TO 1 INCH MAY OCCUR BEFORE THE 
RAIN ENDS BY 330 PM. FLASH FLOODING IS LIKELY ALREADY OCCURRING AND 
THE ADDITIONAL RAINFALL WILL ONLY WORSEN THE CURRENT FLOODING 
SITUATION.

WELCH...BLUEJACKET...WHITE 
OAK...VINITA...QUAPAW...WYANDOTTE...NARCISSA...FAIRLAND...AFTON...COM
MERCE...MIAMI AND ADJACENT COMMUNITIES MAY BE AFFECTED BY FLASH 
FLOODING.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS
IMMINENT. MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO CROSS BRIDGES...DIPS...OR OTHER LOW SPOTS IF WATER COVERS
THE ROADWAY. NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A SMALL
ONE...ON FOOT. TO ESCAPE RISING WATER MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND.

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING OF SMALL CREEKS AND
STREAMS...HIGHWAYS AND UNDERPASSES. ADDITIONALLY...COUNTRY ROADS AND
FARMLAND ALONG THE BANKS OF CREEKS AND STREAMS AND OTHER LOW LYING
AREAS ARE SUBJECT TO FLASH FLOODING.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. THE WATER MAY BE TOO DEEP TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS SAFELY.
VEHICLES CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE ABANDONED QUICKLY. MOVE TO
HIGHER GROUND.

LAT...LON 3698 9540 3654 9541 3670 9463 3698 9463

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Tulsa, OK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Apr 26, 1:25 PM CDT, 24 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 26, 1:25 PM CDT, 24 minutes before
EASTERN OKLAHOMA/NORTHWEST ARKANSAS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
125 PM CDT MON APR 26 1999

BUZZ SAW CONTINUES THIS AFTERNOON.  UPDATED ZONES ALREADY TO REFLECT
LATEST WATCH SITUATION AND RADAR TRENDS.  AWIPS AND RADAR NOW
RUNNING LIKE A CHAMP.

HOWIESON
FCSTID = 44

.TUL...
AR...FFA ALL ZONES THIS AFTERNOON.
OK...FFA ALL ZONES THIS AFTERNOON.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 26, 11:45 AM CDT, 2 hours 4 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1145 AM CDT MON APR 26 1999

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0900 AM    OKEMAH                    OK    WIND DAMAGE
04/26/99   OKFUSKEE                        SMALL TREE LIMBS DOWN
                                           ABOUT 1 INCH IN DIAMETER.

1118 AM    BIXBY                     OK    WIND DAMAGE
04/26/99   TULSA                           MOBILE TURNED OVER NEAR
                                           181ST AND YALE. NOT
                                           OCCUPIED AT THE TIME.
Local storm report, Apr 26, 11:55 AM CDT, 1 hour 54 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1155 AM CDT MON APR 26 1999

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0900 AM    OKEMAH                    OK    WIND DAMAGE
04/26/99   OKFUSKEE                        SMALL TREE LIMBS DOWN
                                           ABOUT 1 INCH IN DIAMETER.

1118 AM    BIXBY                     OK    WIND DAMAGE
04/26/99   TULSA                           MOBILE HOME OVERTURNED
                                           AT 181ST AND YALE. NOT
                                           OCCUPIED AT THE TIME.
Special weather statement, Apr 26, 1:00 PM CDT, 49 minutes before
ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-271100-

EASTERN OKLAHOMA/NORTHWEST ARKANSAS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
100 PM CDT MON APR 26 1999

...FLASH FLOODING WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TODAY...
...ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE TODAY AND THIS EVENING
OVER MUCH OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS...

.SYNOPSIS...
AN UPPER LOW OVER SOUTHEAST COLORADO WILL MOVE THROUGH SOUTHERN KANSAS
INTO SOUTHWESTERN MISSOURI BY TUESDAY MORNING.  NUMEROUS STRONG TO
OCCASIONALLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AHEAD OF THIS FEATURE WILL CONTINUING
MOVING THROUGH EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS THROUGH EARLY
TONIGHT.

.DISCUSSION...
A LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE IN
INTENSITY THIS AFTERNOON OVER FAR NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST
ARKANSAS AS THEY ENCOUNTER A MORE UNSTABLE AIRMASS.  ISOLATED SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS...CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING DOWNBURST
WINDS...WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE LATE AFTERNOON.  LOCALIZED FLASH
FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE AS WELL...ESPECIALLY OVER FAR NORTHEAST
OKLAHOMA WHERE EXCESSIVE RAINFALL HAS OCCURRED OVER THE PAST 2 DAYS.

AS THE UPPER LOW MOVES EAST...COLDER MID-LEVEL TEMPERATURES WILL
OVERSPREAD THE AREA LATE THIS AFTERNOON.  DENSE CLOUD COVER FROM THIS
MORNINGS CONVECTION WILL HAMPER WARMING THROUGH MUCH OF THE
AFTERNOON...BUT ENOUGH CLEARING IS EXPECTED FOR THE ATMOSPHERE TO BECOME
INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE BY LATE AFTERNOON.  SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD
REDEVELOP OVER PARTS OF KANSAS AND CENTRAL AND EASTERN OKLAHOMA BY LATE
AFTERNOON ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE DRYLINE...AND EVENTUALLY MOVE INTO
PARTS OF NORTHWEST ARKANSAS DURING THE EVENING.  GIVEN THE VERY COLD
TEMPERATURES ALOFT...LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE THE PRIMARY
SEVERE WEATHER THREAT FROM THESE MULTICELL THUNDERSTORMS.

WITH THE LOSS OF DAYTIME HEATING...THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD DECREASE IN
STRENGTH AND COVERAGE BY LATE EVENING.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND SPOTTER ACTIVATION...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT AND MAY CONTINUE INTO THE
EVENING.
Special weather statement, Apr 26, 1:00 PM CDT, 49 minutes before
ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-271100-

EASTERN OKLAHOMA/NORTHWEST ARKANSAS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
100 PM CDT MON APR 26 1999

...FLASH FLOODING WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TODAY...
...ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE TODAY AND THIS EVENING
OVER MUCH OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS...

.SYNOPSIS...
AN UPPER LOW OVER SOUTHEAST COLORADO WILL MOVE THROUGH SOUTHERN KANSAS
INTO SOUTHWESTERN MISSOURI BY TUESDAY MORNING.  NUMEROUS STRONG TO
OCCASIONALLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AHEAD OF THIS FEATURE WILL CONTINUING
MOVING THROUGH EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS THROUGH EARLY
TONIGHT.

.DISCUSSION...
A LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE IN
INTENSITY THIS AFTERNOON OVER FAR NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST
ARKANSAS AS THEY ENCOUNTER A MORE UNSTABLE AIRMASS.  ISOLATED SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS...CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING DOWNBURST
WINDS...WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE LATE AFTERNOON.  LOCALIZED FLASH
FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE AS WELL...ESPECIALLY OVER FAR NORTHEAST
OKLAHOMA WHERE EXCESSIVE RAINFALL HAS OCCURRED OVER THE PAST 2 DAYS.

AS THE UPPER LOW MOVES EAST...COLDER MID-LEVEL TEMPERATURES WILL
OVERSPREAD THE AREA LATE THIS AFTERNOON.  DENSE CLOUD COVER FROM THIS
MORNINGS CONVECTION WILL HAMPER WARMING THROUGH MUCH OF THE
AFTERNOON...BUT ENOUGH CLEARING IS EXPECTED FOR THE ATMOSPHERE TO BECOME
INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE BY LATE AFTERNOON.  SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD
REDEVELOP OVER PARTS OF KANSAS AND CENTRAL AND EASTERN OKLAHOMA BY LATE
AFTERNOON ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE DRYLINE...AND EVENTUALLY MOVE INTO
PARTS OF NORTHWEST ARKANSAS DURING THE EVENING.  GIVEN THE VERY COLD
TEMPERATURES ALOFT...LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE THE PRIMARY
SEVERE WEATHER THREAT FROM THESE MULTICELL THUNDERSTORMS.

WITH THE LOSS OF DAYTIME HEATING...THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD DECREASE IN
STRENGTH AND COVERAGE BY LATE EVENING.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND SPOTTER ACTIVATION...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT AND MAY CONTINUE INTO THE
EVENING.
Special weather statement, Apr 26, 1:15 PM CDT, 34 minutes before
OKZ077-261835-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
115 PM CDT MON APR 26 1999

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 179 FOR MCCURTAIN OKLAHOMA COUNTY
HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THAT WERE LOCATED ACROSS SOUTHEAST
OKLAHOMA HAVE MOVED TO THE NORTH OUT OF THE AREA.
Special weather statement, Apr 26, 1:15 PM CDT, 34 minutes before
OKZ077-261835-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
115 PM CDT MON APR 26 1999

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 179 FOR MCCURTAIN OKLAHOMA COUNTY
HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THAT WERE LOCATED ACROSS SOUTHEAST
OKLAHOMA HAVE MOVED TO THE NORTH OUT OF THE AREA.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Tulsa, OK issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 26, 9:21 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSACreek24 min
Apr 26, 9:45 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningTSACreek, McIntosh, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Tulsa4 hr
Apr 26, 9:45 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningTSAPittsburg4 hr
Apr 26, 11:27 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningTSACraig, Mayes, Nowata, Rogers, Wagoner, Washington3 hr
Apr 26, 11:27 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningTSAOsage3 hr
Apr 26, 11:27 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningTSAMuskogee3 hr
Apr 26, 11:57 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSALeFlore48 min
Apr 26, 12:33 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSASequoyah42 min
Apr 26, 6:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTSAPittsburg41 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Oklahoma, 1999Every flash flood warning in 1999

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.