Oklahoma, 1997

Flash Flooding and Lightning Strike in Oklahoma, July 17, 1997

July 17, 1997 · NWS OUN · 5 events in 1 county or zone

4 flash flood, 1 lightning, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
2
Property damage
$35,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

4 flash flood, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Kay

When
July 17, 2:00 AM CST
Where
Kay County, Ponca City
Injuries
2 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$35,000
Coordinates
36.818, -97.144 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning struck and set fire to a house, destroying the den and living areas. Two occupants of the house were injured in the fire.

Flash Flood, Kay

When
July 17, 8:15 AM CST
Where
Kay County, Ponca City
Coordinates
36.818, -97.144 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hubbard Road west of Waverly, State Highway and Hubbard Road at Highway 60, and Highland Extension just west of Ponca City were all closed.

Flash Flood, Kay

When
July 17, 8:15 AM CST
Where
Kay County, 2 mi N of Ponca City
Coordinates
36.818, -97.144 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Radio Tower Road was closed due to flooding.

Flash Flood, Kay

When
July 17, 8:30 AM CST
Where
Kay County, Braman
Coordinates
36.818, -97.144 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Bender Road was closed due to high water.

Flash Flood, Kay

When
July 17, 8:30 AM CST
Where
Kay County, 1 mi N of Tonkawa
Coordinates
36.818, -97.144 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Due to high water, 13th Street was closed near Stink Creek.

What these are

Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
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

More

Every storm in Oklahoma in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings 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: 5618697, 5618624, 5618625, 5618626, 5618627.