Alert archive / Oklahoma / Flash Flood Warnings in 2020

Flash Flood Warning 18, NWS Tulsa, OK

July 11, 2020Tulsa County, Oklahoma

NWS Tulsa, OK issued this flash flood warning at Jul 11, 2020, 10:07 PM CDT for Tulsa County, Oklahoma. It was in force for 3 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: Jul 11, 2020, 10:07 PM CDT (03:07 UTC)
Expired: Jul 12, 2020, 1:00 AM CDT
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Tulsa, OK
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

County Tulsa County, OK

The radar

The Tulsa radar (KINX), 31 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:07 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, 3.1 hours before the alert went out and 172 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 4218 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -66 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1900 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 38 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 18 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 136 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.2
Supercell composite: 14.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

330 
WGUS54 KTSA 120307
FFWTSA
OKC143-120600-
/O.NEW.KTSA.FF.W.0018.200712T0307Z-200712T0600Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
1007 PM CDT Sat Jul 11 2020

The National Weather Service in Tulsa has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Northeastern Tulsa County in northeastern Oklahoma...

* Until 100 AM CDT.

* At 1003 PM CDT, Doppler radar and automated gauges indicated 
  thunderstorms producing very heavy rain across portions of Tulsa 
  county. Up to one inch and a half inches of rain has already 
  fallen in a 30 minute period in north Tulsa and just northeast of 
  Owasso. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar and automated gauges.

  IMPACT...Flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, 
           highways, streets and underpasses as well as other 
           drainage and low lying areas.

* Some locations that may experience flooding include...
  Tulsa...                          Owasso...
  Catoosa...                        Sperry...
  Turley...                         Tulsa International Airport...

Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the 
warned area as additional storms move in from the west.

This includes Interstate 44 between mile markers 218 and 232.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.

Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small
creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as
well as other drainage areas and low lying spots.

&&

LAT...LON 3616 9581 3616 9580 3607 9584 3608 9604
      3616 9603 3616 9600 3632 9600 3632 9581

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED
EXPECTED RAINFALL...1-3 INCHES IN 1 HOUR

$$

2 follow-up statements

045 
WGUS74 KTSA 120418
FFSTSA

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
1118 PM CDT Sat Jul 11 2020

OKC143-120600-
/O.CON.KTSA.FF.W.0018.000000T0000Z-200712T0600Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Tulsa OK-
1118 PM CDT Sat Jul 11 2020

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN TULSA COUNTY...

At 1116 PM CDT, Doppler radar and automated gauges indicated
thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Up to two
inches of rain have already fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing or
expected to begin shortly.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Radar and automated gauges.

IMPACT...Flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, 
         highways, streets and underpasses as well as other drainage 
         and low lying areas.

Some locations that may experience flooding include...
Tulsa...                          Owasso...
Catoosa...                        Sperry...
Turley...                         Tulsa International Airport...

Additional rainfall amounts of up to 1 inch are possible in
the warned area.

This includes Interstate 44 between mile markers 218 and 232.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.

Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small
creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as
well as other drainage areas and low lying spots.

&&

LAT...LON 3616 9581 3616 9580 3607 9584 3608 9604
      3616 9603 3616 9600 3632 9600 3632 9581

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED
EXPECTED RAINFALL...1 INCH IN 1 HOUR

$$

497 
WGUS74 KTSA 120554
FFSTSA

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
1254 AM CDT Sun Jul 12 2020

OKC143-120604-
/O.EXP.KTSA.FF.W.0018.000000T0000Z-200712T0600Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Tulsa OK-
1254 AM CDT Sun Jul 12 2020

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN TULSA COUNTY WILL EXPIRE
AT 100 AM CDT...

The heavy rain has ended. Flood waters have receded. Flooding is no
longer expected to pose a threat. Please continue to heed any
remaining road closures.

LAT...LON 3616 9581 3616 9580 3607 9584 3608 9604
      3616 9603 3616 9600 3632 9600 3632 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 Jul 11, 10:03 PM CDT, 4 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 11, 10:03 PM CDT, 4 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
1003 PM CDT Sat Jul 11 2020

.DISCUSSION...
MCS along a Pawnee to FSM line continues to push southward with
continued reports of severe weather along the line. Expanded severe
thunderstorm watch southward to include all but Pushmataha and
Choctaw Counties, which may need to be added at a later time. Very
strong instability remains in place south of the convection, and deep
layer shear remains unseasonably strong. Expect severe weather
potential to persist until after midnight, with damaging wind threat
most likely hazard as cold pool surges south, and strong embedded
cells potentially producing large hail. Adjusted forecast based on
expected convective trends remainder of the night. Isolated heavy
rainfall rates/amounts will result in some flash flooding, but we
don't believe threat is widespread enough at this time to warrant a
flash flood watch.

&&

.TSA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...None.
AR...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...69

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 11, 4:44 PM CDT, 5 hours 23 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
444 PM CDT Sat Jul 11 2020

ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-121030-
Adair OK-Benton AR-Carroll AR-Cherokee OK-Choctaw OK-Craig OK-
Crawford AR-Creek OK-Delaware OK-Franklin AR-Haskell OK-Latimer OK-
Le Flore OK-Madison AR-Mayes OK-McIntosh OK-Muskogee OK-Nowata OK-
Okfuskee OK-Okmulgee OK-Osage OK-Ottawa OK-Pawnee OK-Pittsburg OK-
Pushmataha OK-Rogers OK-Sebastian AR-Sequoyah OK-Tulsa OK-Wagoner OK-
Washington OK-Washington AR-
444 PM CDT Sat Jul 11 2020

...SEVERE WEATHER LIKELY THIS EVENING...

This Outlook is for Northwest and West Central Arkansas as well as
much of Eastern Oklahoma.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight.
TORNADO.
	RISK...Limited.
	AREA...Mainly north of Highway 412.
	ONSET...After 7 pm.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM.
	RISK...Critical.
	AREA...Eastern Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas.
	ONSET...After 7 pm.
	AREA AT GREATEST RISK...North of I-40.

HEAVY RAIN.
	RISK...Limited.
	AREA...Northeast Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas.
	ONSET...After 7 pm.

DANGEROUS HEAT.
	RISK...Significant.
	AREA...Eastern Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas.
	ONSET...Ongoing.
	AREA AT GREATEST RISK...Eastern Oklahoma and West Central Arkansas.

DISCUSSION...
Severe weather is expected to develop into northeastern Oklahoma and
northwest Arkansas this evening through early tonight. The primary
threat will be damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph, with a lesser threat
of large hail. There is also a non-zero threat of isolated tornadoes
in areas closer to the Kansas and Missouri borders this evening.

A complex of severe storms is expected to develop over south central
Kansas and north central Oklahoma by early this evening, and will
move southeast across northeast Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas
during the evening and tonight. Very strong instability and strong
wind shear will favor organized and potentially significant severe
weather, perhaps as far south as I-40, with lesser chances to the
south. Thunderstorms will continue to push into southeastern Oklahoma
and west central Arkansas through late tonight.

Dangerous heat is ongoing this afternoon across much of eastern
Oklahoma and west central Arkansas, with heat index values in the 110
to 116 degree range. An Excessive Heat Warning is in effect for much
of the area through 9 pm this evening. Conditions will improve by
late evening as temperatures cool, and thunderstorms begin to push
into the area.

SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT...
Activation of the Regional Spotter Network Expected.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.
SUNDAY...Thunderstorm Potential...Dangerous Heat Potential.
MONDAY...Dangerous Heat Potential.
TUESDAY...Thunderstorm Potential...Dangerous Heat Potential.
WEDNESDAY through FRIDAY...Dangerous Heat Potential.

EXTENDED DISCUSSION...
Thunderstorms are expected to continue to affect southeastern
Oklahoma and west central Arkansas Sunday morning into the
afternoon, as the cold front slowly passes through the region. There
is a limited risk of severe weather with this activity.

The heat will become the main concern next week, especially Tuesday
through Friday with heat index values in the 100 to 110 degree
range across eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas during this
time.

weather.gov/tulsa contains additional information.

69

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 11, 9:45 PM CDT, 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
945 PM CDT SAT JUL 11 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0926 PM     TSTM WND GST     TAHLEQUAH               35.92N 94.97W
07/11/2020  E70 MPH          CHEROKEE           OK   AMATEUR RADIO

            ALSO REPORTED 1.5 INCH HAIL AND MINOR STREET FLOODING

&&

LACY

Local storm report, Jul 11, 9:51 PM CDT, 16 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
951 PM CDT SAT JUL 11 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0945 PM     TSTM WND GST     JENKS                   36.02N 95.97W
07/11/2020  M63 MPH          TULSA              OK   ASOS

            MEASURED AT KRVS RIVERSIDE AIRPORT IN JENKS

&&

LACY

Special weather statement, Jul 11, 9:56 PM CDT, 11 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
956 PM CDT Sat Jul 11 2020

OKZ066-068-070>072-074-120345-
Haskell OK-Muskogee OK-Okmulgee OK-Sequoyah OK-Cherokee OK-
McIntosh OK-
956 PM CDT Sat Jul 11 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL HASKELL...NORTHEASTERN
MCINTOSH...WESTERN SEQUOYAH...SOUTH CENTRAL CHEROKEE...MUSKOGEE AND
EASTERN OKMULGEE COUNTIES UNTIL 1045 PM CDT...

At 956 PM CDT, strong thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from 2 miles east of Bald Hill to 5 miles west of Tamaha.
Movement was south at 30 mph.

Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with these storms.

Locations in or near the path include...
Muskogee...                       Stigler...
Checotah...                       Haskell...
Warner...                         Vian...
Gore...                           Porum...
Webbers Falls...                  Keota...
Mccurtain...                      Whitefield...
Oktaha...                         Braggs...
Taft...                           Boynton...
Tamaha...                         Council Hill...
Rentiesville...                   Greenleaf State Park...

This includes Interstate 40 in Oklahoma between mile markers 251 and
299.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

If on or near Lake Eufaula, get out of the water and move indoors or
inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 10 miles
from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are close
enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not
be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.

Persons in campgrounds should consider seeking sturdy shelter until
these storms pass.

&&

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 100 AM CDT for
southeastern, northeastern and east central Oklahoma.

LAT...LON 3584 9579 3581 9564 3579 9564 3576 9559
      3579 9555 3568 9503 3542 9490 3509 9495
      3547 9583
TIME...MOT...LOC 0256Z 000DEG 25KT 3573 9579 3543 9508

Local storm report, Jul 11, 9:58 PM CDT, 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
958 PM CDT SAT JUL 11 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0957 PM     TSTM WND GST     SAPULPA                 36.00N 96.11W
07/11/2020  E70 MPH          CREEK              OK   AMATEUR RADIO

            WIND GUST REPORTED AT MAIN AND TAFT IN SAPULPA

&&

LACY

Local storm report, Jul 11, 9:59 PM CDT, 8 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
959 PM CDT SAT JUL 11 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0943 PM     TSTM WND GST     SALLISAW                35.46N 94.79W
07/11/2020  E62 MPH          SEQUOYAH           OK   EMERGENCY MNGR

            REPORTED AT SALLISAW EOC

&&

LACY

Local storm report, Jul 11, 10:01 PM CDT, 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1001 PM CDT SAT JUL 11 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0920 PM     TSTM WND DMG     STILWELL                35.81N 94.63W
07/11/2020                   ADAIR              OK   BROADCAST MEDIA

            TREES DOWN IN STILWELL...TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR

&&

LACY

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 11, 7:22 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TSA	Nowata	23 min
Jul 11, 7:34 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Nowata, Rogers, Washington	41 min
Jul 11, 7:38 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Craig, Delaware, Ottawa, Rogers	52 min
Jul 11, 7:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Delaware	46 min
Jul 11, 7:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Delaware, Mayes	50 min
Jul 11, 8:00 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Nowata, Osage, Washington	30 min
Jul 11, 8:12 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Rogers	48 min
Jul 11, 8:21 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Cherokee, Delaware, Mayes, Rogers, Wagoner	24 min
Jul 11, 8:26 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TSA	Rogers	34 min
Jul 11, 8:27 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Adair, Delaware	33 min
Jul 11, 8:31 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Osage, Pawnee	44 min
Jul 11, 8:36 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Rogers, Tulsa, Wagoner	39 min
Jul 11, 8:46 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Adair, Cherokee, Delaware, Mayes, Rogers, Wagoner	44 min
Jul 11, 8:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Adair	35 min
Jul 11, 9:02 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TSA	Wagoner	28 min
Jul 11, 9:10 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Adair, Cherokee, Muskogee, Wagoner	35 min
Jul 11, 9:13 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Creek, Muskogee, Okmulgee, Osage, Rogers, Tulsa and 1 more	47 min
Jul 11, 9:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Creek, Osage, Pawnee, Tulsa	45 min
Jul 11, 9:18 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Adair	12 min
Jul 11, 9:27 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Adair, Cherokee, Muskogee, Sequoyah	48 min
Jul 11, 9:34 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Cherokee, Mayes, Rogers, Wagoner	26 min
Jul 11, 9:49 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	TSA	Craig, Mayes, Nowata, Rogers, Tulsa, Wagoner and 1 more	3 hr
Jul 11, 9:50 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Creek, Okmulgee, Tulsa	40 min
Jul 11, 9:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	LeFlore, Sequoyah	51 min
Jul 11, 9:56 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TSA	Haskell, Muskogee	49 min
Jul 11, 10:00 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Muskogee, Okmulgee, Tulsa, Wagoner	30 min
Jul 11, 10:02 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Osage, Tulsa, Washington	28 min
Jul 11, 10:19 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Haskell, McIntosh, Muskogee, Okmulgee, Pittsburg	41 min
Jul 11, 10:24 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Rogers, Tulsa, Wagoner, Washington	19 min
Jul 11, 10:29 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Haskell, Latimer, LeFlore	46 min
Jul 11, 10:32 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	LeFlore, Sequoyah	43 min
Jul 11, 10:35 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TSA	Osage, Pawnee	25 min
Jul 11, 10:40 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TSA	Okfuskee	35 min
Jul 11, 10:48 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Creek, Okfuskee, Okmulgee	42 min
Jul 11, 10:53 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Latimer, LeFlore, Pushmataha	52 min
Jul 11, 10:55 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TSA	Creek, Washington	50 min
Jul 11, 11:00 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Haskell, Latimer, McIntosh, Muskogee, Okmulgee, Pittsburg and 1 more	45 min
Jul 11, 11:12 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	TSA	Creek, Osage, Tulsa	3 hr
Jul 11, 11:17 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Latimer, LeFlore	28 min
Jul 11, 11:19 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TSA	Creek	26 min
Jul 11, 11:22 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TSA	Rogers	23 min
Jul 11, 11:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Creek, Okfuskee, Okmulgee	50 min
Jul 11, 11:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Choctaw, Latimer, LeFlore, Pittsburg, Pushmataha	46 min
Jul 11, 11:46 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TSA	Rogers	29 min
Jul 12, 12:04 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TSA	Choctaw	26 min
Jul 12, 12:10 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TSA	Cherokee	35 min
Jul 12, 12:15 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TSA	Choctaw, Pushmataha	45 min
Jul 12, 12:22 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TSA	Hughes	23 min
Jul 12, 1:07 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TSA	Choctaw	23 min
Jul 12, 3:15 AM CDT	Heat Advisory	TSA	Choctaw, Pushmataha	16 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Oklahoma, 2020 Every flash flood warning in 2020

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.