Tornado and Flash Flooding in Oklahoma, July 17 to 18, 1997

Severe thunderstorms developed in eastern Oklahoma during the afternoon and evening of July 17th. The storms spawned one brief tornado 2 miles south southeast of Fairfax at 1805CST. No structural damage occurred with this tornado which was rated F0 in intensity. Damaging straight-line winds, large hail, and flash flooding were the main features associated with the storms.Thunderstorm winds estimated at 80 miles an hour downed trees in Fairfax, and trees were also blown down in Milfay. Large tree limbs were blown down 1 mile south of Fairfax and in Ralston. Thunderstorm winds gusted up to 83 miles an hour at an automated observing site 3 miles northeast of Pawnee, to 80 miles an hour in Jennings, up to 75 miles an hour in Okmulgee, and to 60 miles an hour in Hitchita, in Burbank, and in Drumright. Golfball size hail fell 10 miles northwest of Pawnee and 8 miles northwest of Pawnee, and dime to quarter size hail fell at several other locations in eastern Oklahoma.Thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening of July 17th and early morning of July 18th also produced very heavy rainfall which resulted in flash flooding. The worst flooding was in western Osage County, where up to 12 inches of rain fell. 4 houses in and near Burbank were damaged by high water from Salt Creek, and some of the homes were damaged beyond repair. State Highway 18 was washed out south of Fairfax and was closed north of Fairfax due to high water. Most roads in and out of Fairfax were closed, and water topped a bridge 7 miles north of Fairfax for the first time since 1986. 6 houses were evacuated near Fairfax when Salt Creek rose out of its banks, and some evacuations also took place in Grey Horse. State Highway 11 was closed west of Shidler and east of Ponca City due to flooding, and State Highway 18 south of Shidler was also closed due to flooding. Up to 2 feet of standing water covered some roads in Shidler. In Pawnee County, most roads in Ralston were impassable due to high water, and many creeks were flooded in the Ralston area. State Highway 20 was partially flooded west of Ralston, and numerous county roads were flooded between Pawnee and Ralston and also west of Pawnee. Most low-lying areas in western Pawnee County were flooded. In Creek County, many roads were flooded in and near Shamrock. In Okfuskee County, many county roads were flooded 7 miles west of Welty, and some of the roads were impassable. In Okmulgee County, street flooding occurred in Okmulgee, and several cars were stalled by high water on U.S. Highway 75. Part of a road was washed away near 15th and Delaware in Okmulgee.