Flash Flooding and Hail in Oklahoma, July 10, 1997

Name: Flash Flooding and Hail in Oklahoma, July 10, 1997
Start: 1997-07-10T12:55
End: 1997-07-10T21:45
Location: Oklahoma

July 10, 1997 · NWS OUN · 13 events in 4 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $26,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 13

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 July 10, 1997:Two areas of severe and heavy thunderstorms in northern and southwestern Oklahoma caused serious flash flooding and isolated wind damage during the afternoon and evening of the 10th. In northern Oklahoma, severe thunderstorms caused damage west and southwest of Ponca City in Kay County and flash flooding was reported countywide across Kay County. In southwestern Oklahoma, northeastern portions of Comanche County were particularly hard-hit. Localized heavy rain resulted in the flash flooding of Tony Creek and its tributaries, stranding several motorists and residents in the Fletcher and Elgin areas.See preceding individual Storm Data entries for further details and additional reports.

The radar

The Vance AFB radar (KVNX), 74 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:56 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 flash flood, 5 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Kay

When: July 10, 12:55 PM CST
Where: Kay County, Tonkawa
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 36.680, -97.300

Thunderstorm Wind, Kay

When: July 10, 1:05 PM CST
Where: Kay County, 5 mi W of Ponca City
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 36.700, -97.170

A 15x75-foot wooden horse barn was destroyed, and debris was blown into several other horse trailers.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kay

When: July 10, 1:10 PM CST
Where: Kay County, 1 mi SW of Ponca City
Property damage: $500
Coordinates: 36.680, -97.100

Trees and power lines were blown down.

Flash Flood, Kay

When: July 10, 2:30 PM CST
Where: Kay County, Countywide
Coordinates: 36.818, -97.144 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several roads in Kay County were closed due to high water.

Thunderstorm Wind, Woods

When: July 10, 5:35 PM CST
Where: Woods County, 16 mi N of Freedom
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates: 37.000, -99.120

measured at the Oklahoma Mesonet site.

Thunderstorm Wind, Comanche

When: July 10, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Comanche County, 5 mi E of Lawton
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 34.620, -98.320

Flash Flood, Comanche

When: July 10, 6:00 PM CST to 8:30 PM CST
Where: Comanche County, Fletcher
Coordinates: 34.662, -98.472 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash flooding of Tony Creek resulted in the flooding of one home and the emergency rescues of a total of 7 teenagers. Water in the creek, normally only a few inches deep, rose to an estimated 8-feet deep, cutting off one residence. Four teenagers in this house were rescued as the water rose to near the foundation. Three other teens were stranded in their car at the intersection of Hwy 277 and Tony Creek Rd and also had to be rescued.

Thunderstorm Wind, Caddo

When: July 10, 6:15 PM CST
Where: Caddo County, 2 mi S of Cogar
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 35.300, -98.130

Severe thunderstorm winds, probably associated with a thunderstorm downburst, blew the roof and patio off a trailer house. A light pole was also blown over onto a house and tin an 2x4 boards were forced into the ground.

Flash Flood, Comanche

When: July 10, 6:30 PM CST
Where: Comanche County, 1 mi W of Elgin
Coordinates: 34.662, -98.472 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Up to 2.5 feet of water covered U.S. Highway 277.

Flash Flood, Caddo

When: July 10, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Caddo County, Cyril
Coordinates: 35.174, -98.375 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Water up to a foot deep covered roads in the business district.

Flash Flood, Caddo

When: July 10, 7:15 PM CST
Where: Caddo County, 2 mi W of Cyril
Coordinates: 35.174, -98.375 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A bridge was partially washed out by high water.

Flash Flood, Comanche

When: July 10, 9:00 PM CST
Where: Comanche County, Fletcher
Coordinates: 34.662, -98.472 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Water rose curb-deep across town and covered sidewalks in some places.

Flash Flood, Comanche

When: July 10, 9:45 PM CST
Where: Comanche County, 1 mi W of Elgin
Coordinates: 34.662, -98.472 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

U.S. Highway 277 was closed due to high water.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Oklahoma in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in Oklahoma, July 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: 5618541, 5618543, 5618542, 5618544, 5618545, 5618546, 5618552, 5618551, 5618547, 5618548, 5618549, 5618553, 5618550.