Alert archive / Oklahoma / Flash Flood Warnings in 2003

Flash Flood Warning 28, NWS Tulsa, OK

August 31, 2003Creek County, Tulsa County, Oklahoma

NWS Tulsa, OK issued this flash flood warning at Aug 31, 2003, 1:02 AM CDT for Creek County, Tulsa County, Oklahoma. It was in force for 4 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Aug 31, 2003, 1:02 AM CDT (06:02 UTC)
Expired
Aug 31, 2003, 5:00 AM CDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Tulsa, OK
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

Counties Creek County, OK, Tulsa County, OK

The radar

The Tulsa radar (KINX), 34 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 06:04 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Norman, OK (KOUN), launched 00:00Z, 6.0 hours before the alert went out and 169 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, Norman, OK at 00:00Z on 2003-08-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1231 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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, Norman, OK at 00:00Z on 2003-08-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 46 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
1231 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-3 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
841 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
16 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
46 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
113 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WGUS54 KTSA 310603
FFWTUL
OKC037-143-311000-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
102 AM CDT SUN AUG 31 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR
  EASTERN CREEK COUNTY IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
  TULSA COUNTY IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA

* UNTIL 500 AM CDT

* AT 102 AM CDT RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN 
OVER MOST OF TULSA AND EASTERN CREEK COUNTIES...MOVING NORTH AT 25 
MPH. RADAR INDICATES THAT 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN HAS ALREADY FALLEN 
OVER THE WARNED AREA LATE THIS EVENING. ANOTHER 2 TO 4 INCHES WILL 
BE POSSIBLE THROUGH 500 AM CDT.

* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE AFFECTED BY THE HEAVY RAIN
  INCLUDE TULSA...SAND SPRINGS...BIXBY...JENKS...OWASSO...GLENPOOL...
  SPERRY...SKIATOOK...COLLINSVILLE...BROKEN ARROW...MOUNDS...
  KIEFER...KELLYVILLE AND SAPULPA.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD TO
UNKNOWN DEPTHS. IT ONLY TAKES TWO FEET OF RUSHING WATER TO CARRY AWAY
MOST SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUPS. TAKE A DIFFERENT ROUTE TO
REACH YOUR DESTINATION OR WAIT UNTIL THE WATER RECEDES. REMEMBER...
MOST FLOOD RELATED DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLASH FLOODS. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT AT NIGHT TO TELL HOW
MUCH WATER IS ON THE ROADS. IT ONLY TAKES TWO FEET OF RUSHING WATER
TO CARRY AWAY MOST SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUPS. MOTORISTS
SHOULD NOT DRIVE THROUGH WATER OF UNKNOWN DEPTH. TAKE A DIFFERENT
ROUTE TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION OR WAIT UNTIL THE WATER RECEDES.

LAT...LON 3617 9582 3617 9578 3587 9577 3587 9622
          3618 9622 3618 9601 3644 9601 3644 9581

$$
1 follow-up statement
000 
WGUS74 KTSA 310739
FFSTUL
OKC037-143-311000-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
237 AM CDT SUN AUG 31 2003

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR TULSA AND EASTERN CREEK 
COUNTIES UNTIL 500 AM CDT...

AT 237 AM CDT...RADAR CONTINUED TO SHOW THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY 
RAIN OVER THE WARNED AREA...MOVING NORTH AT 15 MPH. 

RADAR INDICATES THAT 2 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN HAS ALREADY FALLEN OVER 
THE WARNED AREA SINCE MIDNIGHT. ANOTHER 1 TO 2 INCHES INCHES WILL BE 
POSSIBLE THROUGH 500 AM CDT.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE AFFECTED BY THE HEAVY RAIN
INCLUDE GRAY...TULSA...SAND SPRINGS...LEONARD...BIXBY...JENKS...
OWASSO...GLENPOOL...SPERRY...SKIATOOK...COLLINSVILLE...BROKEN
ARROW...MOUNDS...KIEFER...KELLYVILLE AND SAPULPA.

HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS AND LOW LYING AREAS RAPIDLY...SO DO NOT DRIVE
YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER OF AN UNKNOWN DEPTH COVERS THE
ROAD. IT ONLY TAKES TWO FEET OF RUSHING WATER TO CARRY AWAY MOST
SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUPS. TAKE A DIFFERENT ROUTE TO REACH
YOUR DESTINATION OR WAIT UNTIL THE WATER RECEDES. REMEMBER...MOST
FLOOD RELATED DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES.

LAT...LON 3617 9582 3617 9578 3587 9577 3587 9622
          3618 9622 3618 9601 3644 9601 3644 9581

$$

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 Aug 30, 9:30 PM CDT, 3 hours 32 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 30, 9:30 PM CDT, 3 hours 32 minutes before
EASTERN OKLAHOMA/NORTHWEST ARKANSAS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OKLAHOMA
930 PM CDT SAT AUG 30 2003

SYNOPTIC FEATURES OF NOTE THIS EVENING INCLUDE WELL DEFINED
VORTICITY MAX MOVING INTO THE CENTRAL ROCKIES...SLOW MOVING COLD
FRONT EXTENDING FROM NORTH CENTRAL OK INTO WEST TEXAS...AND T.S.
GRACE CHURNING IN THE GULF.  00Z REGIONAL SOUNDINGS SHOW TROPICAL
AIRMASS IN PLACE SUPPORTING NUMEROUS SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE
OF EFFICIENT RAINFALL PRODUCTION.

REGARDING OVERNIGHT RAINFALL...DIFFICULT TO REFINE PLACEMENT OF
GREATEST HEAVY RAIN THREAT.  CURRENT WATCH DOES WELL IN DEFINING
LOCATIONS IN WHICH LITTLE ADDITIONAL RAIN WOULD CAUSE PROBLEMS...SO
NO ADJUSTMENT PLANNED.  RAINFALL THREAT WILL CONTINUE INTO SUNDAY AS
POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR A MORE SIGNIFICANT TROPICAL MOISTURE PLUME TO
STREAM NORTHWARD AND INTERACT WITH SLOWLY PROGRESSING COLD FRONT.
THIS SCENARIO WOULD FURTHER ELEVATE FLOODING RISK.

NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES PLANNED WITH EVENING UPDATE.

FORECAST ID= 07

.TSA...
AR...FLASH FLOOD WATCH TONIGHT AND SUNDAY FOR ZONES
ARZ001>002...ARZ010>011.

OK...FLASH FLOOD WATCH TONIGHT AND SUNDAY FOR ZONES OKZ054>071.
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 30, 6:00 AM CDT, 19 hours 2 minutes before
ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-311100-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
600 AM CDT SAT AUG 30 2003

THIS OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL ARKANSAS AS WELL AS
MUCH OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA.

...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL POSSIBLE THROUGH TONIGHT...

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT
AREAS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE OVER NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
EARLY THIS MORNING...AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT ACROSS NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA
INTO THE TEXAS PANHANDLE. 1 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN
OVERNIGHT...AND LOCALIZED FLOODING WILL CONTINUE THIS MORNING OVER
PARTS OF NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA.

RAINFALL INTENSITY SHOULD TAPER OFF DURING THE AFTERNOON...BUT
ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAIN MAY DEVELOP AGAIN TONIGHT AS LOW-LEVEL WINDS
INCREASE.

PLEASE SEE THE LATEST FLASH FLOOD WATCH /OKCFFATUL/ FOR FURTHER
DETAILS.

WARNING PROBABILITIES FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES CAN BE
FOUND IN THE OUTLOOK SECTION AT: WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TULSA. GIVEN
PROBABILITIES REPRESENT THE POTENTIAL FOR A WARNING TO BE ISSUED AT
YOUR LOCATION.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE SUNDAY...AND POSSIBLY INTO
LABOR DAY BEFORE TAPERING OFF. DRY AND SEASONABLY COOLER WEATHER IS
EXPECTED TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

.SPOTTER / EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. HOWEVER...ANY FLOODING
REPORTS YOU MAY PROVIDE WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT...
WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TULSA

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 30, 7:06 PM CDT, 5 hours 56 minutes before
OKZ073-310030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
706 PM CDT SAT AUG 30 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY EFFECTIVE UNTIL 730 PM CDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTY:

IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA
     PITTSBURG

AT 706 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF MCALESTER TO 3 MILES
NORTHEAST OF KREBS...MOVING NORTH AT 25 MPH.

WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND BRIEF TORRENTIAL RAIN CAN BE EXPECTED AS
THESE THUNDERSTORMS MOVE THROUGH NORTHERN PITTSBURGH COUNTY.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED BY THESE STORMS
INCLUDE...MCALESTER...DOW...BACHE...ALDERSON...KREBS...BLOCKER...FEAT
HERSTON...CROWDER...INDIANOLA AND CANADIAN.
Special weather statement, Aug 30, 7:24 PM CDT, 5 hours 38 minutes before
OKZ059-064-310130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
724 PM CDT SAT AUG 30 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY EFFECTIVE UNTIL 830 PM CDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:

IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
     PAWNEE AND CREEK

AT 724 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM 10 MILES SOUTH OF PAWNEE TO 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
SLICK...MOVING NORTH AT 25 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED
BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE...MANNFORD...PAWNEE...JENNINGS...TERLTON...
HALLETT...MARAMEC...BLACKBURN...SKEDEE...CLEVELAND...WESTPORT...
BRISTOW...SLICK...SHAMROCK...DRUMRIGHT...OILTON...SILVER CITY AND
KELLYVILLE.

THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH.
STAY TUNED TO THIS STATION FOR FURTHER INFORMANTION FROM THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
Special weather statement, Aug 30, 7:30 PM CDT, 5 hours 32 minutes before
OKZ066-071-073-310115-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
730 PM CDT SAT AUG 30 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY EFFECTIVE UNTIL 815 PM CDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:

IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
     OKMULGEE   MCTINOSH    PITTSBURGH

AT 730 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF WILSON TO 5 MILES WEST OF
PIERCE TO 4 MILES NORTHWEST OF BLOCKER...MOVING NORTH AT 30 MPH.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH
ALONG WITH BRIEF TORRENTIAL RAIN.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED BY THESE STORMS
INCLUDE...OKMULGEE...HOFFMAN...GRAYSON...MORRIS...PRESTON...BEGGS...
EUFAULA...CHECOTAH...VIVIAN...STIDHAM...BLOCKER...CANADIAN AND
COUNCIL HILL.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 31, 4:54 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningTSACreek, Okmulgee, Rogers, Tulsa4 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Oklahoma, 2003Every flash flood warning in 2003

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.