Thunderstorm Wind, Washita
- When
- August 10, 4:05 PM CST
- Where
- Washita County, Sentinel
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Coordinates
- 35.150, -99.180
Severe thunderstorm winds destroyed a large shed and downed power poles.
Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Oklahoma, August 10 to 11, 1997
Summary of events of August 10, 1997:Evening thunderstorms moved across western Oklahoma, producing severe winds and flash flooding. Wind speeds were clocked at up to 61 mph in Altus in Jackson County, and wind damage was reported in Sentinel in Washita County and Manitou in Tillman County.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $223,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 9
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
What happened
The episode as NWS OUN wrote it up.
Summary of events of August 10, 1997:Evening thunderstorms moved across western Oklahoma, producing severe winds and flash flooding. Wind speeds were clocked at up to 61 mph in Altus in Jackson County, and wind damage was reported in Sentinel in Washita County and Manitou in Tillman County. Flash flooding was most extensive in Hobart in Kiowa County, where 8.6 inches of rain fell in less than 12 hours as thunderstorms reformed several times and moved over the same area. Homes, businesses, and streets in Hobart were flooded, numerous cars were stalled in high water, and several people had to be evacuated. See preceding individual Storm Data entries for further details and additional reports.
The radar
The Altus AFB radar (KFDR), 90 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:07 UTC.
Event by event
4 flash flood, 3 thunderstorm wind, 2 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Flash Flood, Beckham
- When
- August 10, 7:15 PM CST
- Where
- Beckham County, Elk City
- Coordinates
- 35.269, -99.682 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Two roads in Elk City were closed due to flash flooding.
Lightning, Greer
- When
- August 10, 9:00 PM CST
- Where
- Greer County, Mangum
- Property damage
- $100,000
- Coordinates
- 34.936, -99.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Lightning struck and set fire to a house, destroying the home and its contents.
Flash Flood, Kiowa
- When
- August 10, 9:30 PM CST to August 11, 2:15 AM CST
- Where
- Kiowa County, Hobart
- Property damage
- $100,000
- Coordinates
- 34.916, -98.981 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
After 8.6 inches of rain fell in less than 12 hours, portions of Hobart suffered from severe flash flooding. Seven houses and several businesses, including a carpet store, a saloon, and a radio station, were flooded. Two homes in the 700 block of South Monroe were evacuated due to rising water. Numerous roads were covered by flash flood waters, and eight to ten people had to be rescued from their vehicles by emergency personnel.
Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson
- When
- August 10, 9:54 PM CST
- Where
- Jackson County, Altus
- Measured
- 53 kt (61 mph)
- Coordinates
- 34.630, -99.330
measured by the Altus EOC
Flash Flood, Greer
- When
- August 10, 10:00 PM CST to August 11, 12:30 AM CST
- Where
- Greer County, 7 mi W of Granite
- Coordinates
- 34.936, -99.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Several roads were flooded, including State Highway 9 from its intersection with US Hwy 283 to just west of Granite.
Flash Flood, Greer
- When
- August 10, 10:00 PM CST to August 11, 12:30 AM CST
- Where
- Greer County, 3 mi N of Mangum
- Coordinates
- 34.936, -99.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The intersection of US Hwy 283 and State Hwy 9 was flooded and closed.
Thunderstorm Wind, Tillman
- When
- August 10, 10:20 PM CST
- Where
- Tillman County, Manitou
- Property damage
- $500
- Coordinates
- 34.500, -98.980
Severe thunderstorm winds downed several utility poles.
Lightning, Custer
- When
- August 11, 12:30 AM CST
- Where
- Custer County, Weatherford
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Coordinates
- 35.639, -99.001 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Lightning struck and set fire to the roof of a house, destroying the attic.
What these are
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
- Flash Flood
- Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
- Lightning
- A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Nevada, August 10, 1997
- Damaging Winds in Texas, August 10, 1997
- Lightning Strike in Colorado, August 10, 1997
- Flash Flood in Utah, August 10, 1997
- Hail in Texas, August 10, 1997
- Damaging Winds in Utah, August 10, 1997
- Flash Flood and Hail in Idaho, August 10, 1997
- High Wind in Alaska, August 10 to 11, 1997
- Flood and Heavy Rain in Idaho, August 10, 1997
- Damaging Winds in Texas, August 10, 1997
- Waterspout in Florida, August 10, 1997
- Flash Flood in Idaho, August 10, 1997
More
Every storm in Oklahoma in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, August 1997
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5622248, 5622243, 5622333, 5622244, 5622245, 5622334, 5622335, 5622246, 5622247.