Oklahoma, 1997

Flash Flooding and Hail in Oklahoma, July 21, 1997

July 21, 1997 · NWS OUN · 15 events in 8 counties and zones

Summary of events of July 21, 1997:Afternoon severe thunderstorms moved from southwestern Oklahoma into central and north-central Oklahoma, producing large hail and damaging thunderstorm winds. The largest hail was reported southeast of Kingfisher in Kingfisher County, where hail as large as quarters fell.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 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
$29,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
15

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 21, 1997:Afternoon severe thunderstorms moved from southwestern Oklahoma into central and north-central Oklahoma, producing large hail and damaging thunderstorm winds. The largest hail was reported southeast of Kingfisher in Kingfisher County, where hail as large as quarters fell. The strongest measured wind speeds reached 71 mph at the Oklahoma Mesonet site southeast of Mangum in Greer County. Wind damage occurred in Mountain View in Kiowa County, in Crescent in Logan County, and in Oklahoma City in Oklahoma County. See preceding individual Storm Data entries for further details and additional reports.

The radar

The Altus AFB radar (KFDR), 85 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:48 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 thunderstorm wind, 4 hail, 2 flash flood, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kiowa

When
July 21, 1:50 PM CST
Where
Kiowa County, Mountain View
Property damage
$300
Coordinates
35.100, -98.750

Severe thunderstorm winds blew down several trees and highway signs. A cotton warehouse and a barn also suffered roof damage.

Hail, Washita

When
July 21, 2:10 PM CST
Where
Washita County, Cowden
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
35.250, -98.720

Thunderstorm Wind, Greer

When
July 21, 2:55 PM CST
Where
Greer County, 5 mi SE of Mangum
Measured
62 kt (71 mph)
Coordinates
34.830, -99.430

measured at the Oklahoma Mesonet site

Thunderstorm Wind, Logan

When
July 21, 3:00 PM CST to 3:23 PM CST
Where
Logan County, Crescent
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
35.950, -97.600

The east side of town was hardest hit by severe thunderstorm winds. Several homes and businesses were damaged by falling trees, a railroad crossing light was blown down, a gas pump was blown over, and a carwash canopy was destroyed by the severe thunderstorm winds. Numerous trees and power lines were also blown down.

Hail, Logan

When
July 21, 3:10 PM CST
Where
Logan County, Crescent
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
35.950, -97.600

Thunderstorm Wind, Oklahoma

When
July 21, 3:57 PM CST
Where
Oklahoma County, Oklahoma City
Property damage
$1,000
Coordinates
35.480, -97.530

A large tree was blown by severe winds onto a house at the 1500 block of NW 15th Street.

Hail, Kingfisher

When
July 21, 4:10 PM CST
Where
Kingfisher County, 3 mi SE of Kingfisher
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
35.820, -97.900

Thunderstorm Wind, Oklahoma

When
July 21, 4:11 PM CST
Where
Oklahoma County, Oklahoma City
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$750
Coordinates
35.480, -97.530

A person was injured when a large tree fell on a mobile home at the intersection of NW 14th Street and Classen Boulevard.

Flash Flood, Oklahoma

When
July 21, 4:13 PM CST
Where
Oklahoma County, Oklahoma City
Coordinates
35.552, -97.407 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

People had to be rescued from their stranded vehicle at the intersection of NW 23rd and Cross Street.

Thunderstorm Wind, Oklahoma

When
July 21, 4:23 PM CST
Where
Oklahoma County, Oklahoma City
Property damage
$500
Coordinates
35.480, -97.530

Trees and power poles were blown over on the 1400 block of NW 100th Street.

Lightning, Oklahoma

When
July 21, 4:30 PM CST
Where
Oklahoma County, Oklahoma City
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$1,000
Coordinates
35.552, -97.407 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning struck and split a tree at NW 15th Street and Classen Blvd. The falling tree hit the windshield of a minivan as it was passing by, injuring the driver of the van.

Flash Flood, Oklahoma

When
July 21, 4:51 PM CST
Where
Oklahoma County, Oklahoma City
Coordinates
35.552, -97.407 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

People had to be rescued from their stranded vehicle at the intersection of Kentucky and Linwood Streets.

Hail, Payne

When
July 21, 5:10 PM CST
Where
Payne County, Perkins
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
35.970, -97.030

Thunderstorm Wind, Noble

When
July 21, 5:40 PM CST
Where
Noble County, 7 mi SE of Red Rock
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
36.400, -97.080

measured at the Oklahoma Mesonet site

Thunderstorm Wind, Noble

When
July 21, 5:45 PM CST
Where
Noble County, 7 mi SE of Red Rock
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
36.400, -97.080

measured at the Oklahoma Mesonet site

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

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: 5618710, 5618711, 5618713, 5618718, 5618712, 5618719, 5618714, 5618801, 5618802, 5618803, 5618805, 5618804, 5618715, 5618716, 5618717.