Rivers in Oklahoma

Cimarron River near Perkins

Payne County, OklahomaNWS PRKO2Norman office

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Major flood22.00 ft
Moderate flood20.00 ft
Minor flood17.00 ft
Action16.00 ft
  1. 28.00 ftThe Cimarron River valley in Payne County could suffer worse damages than from the great floods in October of 1986 and May 1957. Flood depths up to 11 feet devastate rural lands... oil fields... and other properties... Overflows continue... from many hours before to many hours after the crest passes Perkins. Floodwaters close U.S. Highway 177 south of Perkins.
  2. 27.00 ftThe Cimarron River valley in Payne County could suffer worse damages than from the great floods in October 1986 and May 1957. Flood depths up to 10 feet devastate rural lands... oil fields... and other properties. Overflows continue from many hours before to many hours after the crest passes Perkins. Floodwaters close U.S. Highway 177 south of Perkins.
  3. 26.00 ftThe Cimarron River valley in Payne County experiences water levels within a foot of the great flood of October 1986... and higher than the flood in May 1957... when the railroad line was destroyed between Guthrie and Perkins. Flood depths up to 9 feet inundate rural areas... from many hours before to many hours after the crest passes Perkins. Floodwaters close U.S. Highway 177 south of Perkins.
  4. 25.00 ftThe Cimarron River valley in Payne County is covered by flood depths averaging 8 feet... worse than the flooding which occurred in May 1957... which destroyed the railroad line between Guthrie and Perkins. Rural lands and roads located near the river banks are inundated... from many hours before to many hours after the crest passes Perkins. Floodwaters close U.S. Highway 177 south of Perkins.
  5. 24.00 ftThe Cimarron River valley in Payne County is covered by flood depths near 7 feet... nearly like the flood in May 1957... which destroyed the railroad line between Guthrie and Perkins. Rural lands and roads located near the river banks are inundated... from many hours before to many hours after the crest passes Perkins. Floodwaters close U.S. Highway 177 south of Perkins.
  6. 23.00 ftThe Cimarron River valley in Payne County is covered by flood depths averaging 6 feet... with very hazardous currents. Agricultural lands... oil wells... and water wells located near the river banks are inundated... from many hours before to many hours after the crest passes Perkins. High water closes U.S. Highway 177 south of Perkins.
  7. 22.00 ftThe Cimarron River valley in Payne County is covered by flood depths averaging 5 feet... with very hazardous currents. Agricultural lands... oil wells... and water wells located near the river banks are inundated... from many hours before to many hours after the crest passes Perkins. High water closes U.S. Highway 177 south of Perkins.
  8. 21.00 ftThe Cimarron River valley in Payne County is covered by flood depths averaging 4 feet... with hazardous currents. Agricultural lands... oil wells... and water wells located near the river banks are inundated or cut off... from several hours before to several hours after the crest passes Perkins. High water closes U.S. Highway 177 south of Perkins.
  9. 20.00 ftThe Cimarron River valley in Payne County is covered by flood depths averaging 3 feet... with hazardous currents. Agricultural lands... oil wells... and water wells located near the river banks are inundated or cut off... several hours before and after the crest passes Perkins. Water overtops and may close U.S. Highway 177 south of Perkins.
  10. 19.50 ftPlaces along the Cimarron River valley in Payne County are covered by flood depths averaging over 2 feet. Agricultural lands... oil wells... and water wells located near the river banks are inundated or cut off... for several hours... by water in side channels. Water overtops the roadway of U.S. Highway 177 south of Perkins... making crossing there hazardous.
  11. 19.00 ftPlaces along the Cimarron River valley in Payne County are covered by flood depths averaging 2 feet. Agricultural lands... oil wells... and water wells located near the river banks are inundated or cut off for several hours... by water in side channels.
  12. 18.50 ftPlaces along the Cimarron River valley in Payne County are briefly flooded. Agricultural lands and oil wells located near the river banks are inundated or cut off by water in side channels.
  13. 18.00 ftPlaces along the Cimarron River valley in Payne County are briefly flooded. Agricultural lands and oil wells located near the river banks are inundated or cut off by water in side channels.
  14. 17.50 ftPlaces along the Cimarron River valley in Payne County are briefly flooded. Agricultural lands and oil wells located near the river banks are isolated by water in cutoff channels along the valley. No major roads are threatened.
  15. 17.00 ftPlaces along the Cimarron River valley in Payne County are briefly flooded. Agricultural lands and oil wells located near the channel are isolated by water in cutoff channels along the valley. No major roads are threatened.
  16. 16.00 ftExpect the Cimarron River to reach bankfull levels through Payne County. Small areas of agricultural land and oil wells located near the channel are isolated by water in cutoff channels along the river valley. No major roads are threatened.
  17. 15.00 ftExpect the Cimarron River to remain mostly within its banks through Payne County. Small areas of agricultural land and oil wells located near the channel are isolated by water in cutoff channels along the valley. No major roads are river threatened.

Crest history

74 crests on NOAA’s list since 1926.

#DateStage
1October 4, 198626.75 ft
2May 17, 195724.53 ft
3June 21, 193523.00 ft
4March 11, 199022.20 ft
5May 19, 198222.03 ft
6March 12, 199022.00 ft
7October 5, 192622.00 ft
8November 4, 197421.85 ft
9October 3, 195921.40 ft
10May 21, 195720.75 ft
11May 19, 194920.22 ft
12March 12, 197419.86 ft
13May 21, 195519.80 ft
14August 18, 193219.60 ft
15October 23, 198619.53 ft
16May 29, 198719.50 ft
17June 10, 200819.40 ft
18April 20, 194219.30 ft
19October 25, 194119.25 ft
20May 20, 194319.08 ft
21April 11, 194419.08 ft
22May 22, 194919.00 ft
23April 17, 194518.92 ft
24May 20, 195118.90 ft
25June 30, 200718.80 ft

Most recent crests

  • June 10, 2008: 19.40 ft
  • August 20, 2007: 17.93 ft
  • July 14, 2007: 18.35 ft
  • June 30, 2007: 18.80 ft
  • June 21, 2007: 17.45 ft
  • May 9, 2007: 17.45 ft
  • April 12, 1997: 18.00 ft
  • December 21, 1991: 16.10 ft
  • March 12, 1990: 22.00 ft
  • March 11, 1990: 22.20 ft

Nearby

Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.

What this means

Forecasts by the Arkansas-Red Basin RFC. Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available. River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 24 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.

Sources

Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service.