Oklahoma, 1997

Flash Flooding and Hail in Oklahoma, June 16, 1997

June 16, 1997 · NWS OUN · 74 events in 26 counties and zones

Summary of events of June 16, 1997:Severe thunderstorms developed and moved across much of Oklahoma during the afternoon and evening of the 16th. Numerous reports of large hail, damaging thunderstorm winds, and flash flooding were received from across the region.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 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
$114,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
74

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 June 16, 1997:Severe thunderstorms developed and moved across much of Oklahoma during the afternoon and evening of the 16th. Numerous reports of large hail, damaging thunderstorm winds, and flash flooding were received from across the region. The largest hail fell east of Seminole in Seminole County, where grapefruit-sized hail was reported. Elsewhere, a combination of strong winds and hail as large as golf balls caused extensive damage in Tonkawa in Kay County and across much of Grant County.The strongest estimated wind speed during the event was 80 mph in Comanche in Stephens County, which suffered widespread tree, limb, and structural damage. Other major structural damage was reported in Kingston in Marshall County, northeast of Eldorado and in Altus in Jackson County, northwest of Hydro in Blaine County, in Seminole in Seminole County, and in Duncan in Stephens County. More minor damage, mainly to trees and utility poles, occurred in Sayre and Elk City in Beckham County, in Marietta in Love County, in Arapaho and west of Custer City in Custer County, in Mannsville in Johnston County, east of Holdenville in Hughes County, in Shawnee in Pottawatomie County, in Marlow in Stephens County, and in Wewoka in Seminole County. Flash flooding was particularly severe in Ponca City in Kay County, where several people were rescued from flooded vehicles and seven homes were flooded. Flash flooding was also reported in Gerty in Hughes County and in and around Comanche in Stephens County.See preceding individual Storm Data entries for further details and additional reports.

The radar

The Vance AFB radar (KVNX), 31 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:15 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

34 thunderstorm wind, 32 hail, 8 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Alfalfa

When
June 16, 2:15 PM CST
Where
Alfalfa County, Burlington
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
36.900, -98.420

Hail, Woodward

When
June 16, 3:10 PM CST
Where
Woodward County, Woodward
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
36.430, -99.400

3/4-inch hail covered the ground.

Hail, Woodward

When
June 16, 3:23 PM CST
Where
Woodward County, 5 mi W of Mooreland
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
36.430, -99.280

Hail, Woods

When
June 16, 3:30 PM CST
Where
Woods County, 12 mi N of Alva
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
36.970, -98.670

Quarter-sized hail covered about 70 percent of the ground.

Thunderstorm Wind, Grant

When
June 16, 4:00 PM CST
Where
Grant County, 1 mi SW of Medford
Measured
51 kt (59 mph)
Coordinates
36.800, -97.750

measured at the Oklahoma Mesonet site

Hail, Grant

When
June 16, 4:00 PM CST
Where
Grant County, 5 mi NW of Medford
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
36.870, -97.800

Quarter-size hail was up to three inches deep.

Thunderstorm Wind, Grant

When
June 16, 4:00 PM CST
Where
Grant County, 5 mi NW of Medford
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Coordinates
36.870, -97.800

Thunderstorm Wind, Grant

When
June 16, 4:10 PM CST
Where
Grant County, 1 mi SW of Medford
Measured
51 kt (59 mph)
Coordinates
36.800, -97.750

measured at the Oklahoma Mesonet site

Hail, Grant

When
June 16, 4:10 PM CST
Where
Grant County, 3 mi N of Medford
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
36.870, -97.730

Quarter-sized hail covered the ground over an area three miles wide by seven miles long.

Hail, Woods

When
June 16, 4:30 PM CST
Where
Woods County, 6 mi SE of Avard
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
36.630, -98.700

Hail, Alfalfa

When
June 16, 4:30 PM CST
Where
Alfalfa County, 4 mi SE of Aline
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
36.480, -98.400

Hail, Major

When
June 16, 4:40 PM CST
Where
Major County, 3 mi N of Cleo Springs
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
36.330, -98.500

Hail, Kay

When
June 16, 5:00 PM CST
Where
Kay County, Tonkawa
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
36.680, -97.300

A combination of hail as large as golf balls and strong winds caused widespread damage in Tonkawa, particularly over an 11-block area on the north side of town. Roofs were severely damaged and windows were broken in both vehicles and houses. Large tree limbs were downed and trees were uprooted by winds estimated at up to 70 mph.

Hail, Kay

When
June 16, 5:12 PM CST
Where
Kay County, 2 mi N of Tonkawa
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
36.720, -97.300

Golfball-sized hail covered the ground.

Hail, Pushmataha

When
June 16, 5:20 PM CST
Where
Pushmataha County, Clayton
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
34.580, -95.350

Hail, Grant

When
June 16, 5:25 PM CST to 5:42 PM CST
Where
Grant County, Medford to 2 mi E of Deer Creek
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
36.830, -97.770

Hail as large as golf balls cut a swath across central and eastern Grant and western Kay Counties. Wheat crops along this path were completely destroyed. On Highway 11 between Deer Creek and Nardin, hail covering the highway to depths of up to 8 inches forced motorists to stop. Some homes in Deer Creek were reportedly damaged by the large hail. This entry represents the Grant County portion of the event.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kay

When
June 16, 5:40 PM CST
Where
Kay County, Ponca City
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Coordinates
36.700, -97.080

Winds were estimated at 60 to 70 mph on the west side of Ponca City.

Hail, Kay

When
June 16, 5:42 PM CST to 5:46 PM CST
Where
Kay County, Nardin
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
36.800, -97.430

Hail as large as golf balls cut a swath across central and eastern Grant and western Kay Counties. Wheat crops along this path were completely destroyed. On Highway 11 between Deer Creek and Nardin, hail covering the highway to depths of up to 8 inches forced motorists to stop. Some homes in Deer Creek were reportedly damaged by the large hail. This entry represents only the Kay County portion of the event.

Flash Flood, Kay

When
June 16, 6:10 PM CST
Where
Kay County, Ponca City
Coordinates
36.818, -97.144 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Both Hartford Street and South Avenue Street were closed due to high water.

Thunderstorm Wind, Beckham

When
June 16, 6:10 PM CST
Where
Beckham County, Sayre
Property damage
$500
Coordinates
35.300, -99.650

Severe thunderstorm winds blew down a large Texaco sign at the Sayre exit off I-40.

Hail, Beckham

When
June 16, 6:15 PM CST
Where
Beckham County, Elk City
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
35.420, -99.420

Thunderstorm Wind, Beckham

When
June 16, 6:15 PM CST
Where
Beckham County, Elk City
Property damage
$100
Coordinates
35.420, -99.420

Eight to ten inch diameter trees and limbs were blown down by the strong winds.

Flash Flood, Kay

When
June 16, 6:15 PM CST
Where
Kay County, Ponca City
Coordinates
36.818, -97.144 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two people were rescued from their flooded vehicles on Albany Street.

Flash Flood, Kay

When
June 16, 6:18 PM CST
Where
Kay County, Ponca City
Coordinates
36.818, -97.144 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One person was rescued from their flooded vehicle at the intersection of 7th and Gray Street.

Thunderstorm Wind, Love

When
June 16, 6:21 PM CST
Where
Love County, Marietta
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
33.930, -97.120

Tree limbs were blown down by the high winds.

Thunderstorm Wind, Custer

When
June 16, 6:30 PM CST
Where
Custer County, 5 mi SW of Butler
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
35.580, -99.250

measured at the Oklahoma Mesonet site

Hail, Roger Mills

When
June 16, 6:30 PM CST
Where
Roger Mills County, 11 mi S of Cheyenne
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
35.450, -99.670

Thunderstorm Wind, Marshall

When
June 16, 6:30 PM CST
Where
Marshall County, Kingston
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
34.000, -96.720

A storage building was destroyed and shingles were blown from the roof at a nursing home.

Thunderstorm Wind, Custer

When
June 16, 6:45 PM CST
Where
Custer County, Arapaho
Property damage
$100
Coordinates
35.570, -98.950

A large tree was blown over by the high winds.

Flash Flood, Kay

When
June 16, 7:00 PM CST
Where
Kay County, Ponca City
Coordinates
36.818, -97.144 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Seven homes were flooded.

Thunderstorm Wind, Custer

When
June 16, 7:10 PM CST
Where
Custer County, 5 mi W of Custer City
Property damage
$10
Coordinates
35.670, -98.970

Tree limbs were blown down.

Hail, Marshall

When
June 16, 7:11 PM CST
Where
Marshall County, 2 mi W of Madill
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
34.080, -96.800

Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson

When
June 16, 7:15 PM CST
Where
Jackson County, 2 mi NE of Eldorado
Measured
58 kt (67 mph)
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
34.480, -99.630

Severe thunderstorm winds up to 67 mph peeled the roof off of a mobile home.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kay

When
June 16, 7:15 PM CST
Where
Kay County, 8 mi E of Newkirk
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates
36.880, -96.900

measured at the Oklahoma Mesonet site

Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson

When
June 16, 7:20 PM CST
Where
Jackson County, Eldorado
Measured
58 kt (67 mph)
Coordinates
34.470, -99.650

Thunderstorm Wind, Johnston

When
June 16, 7:20 PM CST
Where
Johnston County, Mannsville
Property damage
$100
Coordinates
34.180, -96.880

Severe thunderstorm winds toppled trees.

Thunderstorm Wind, Custer

When
June 16, 7:25 PM CST
Where
Custer County, 4 mi WSW of Weatherford
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
35.520, -98.780

measured at the Oklahoma Mesonet site

Flash Flood, Kay

When
June 16, 7:26 PM CST
Where
Kay County, Ponca City
Coordinates
36.818, -97.144 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Waverly Street was closed due to high water.

Thunderstorm Wind, Custer

When
June 16, 7:30 PM CST
Where
Custer County, 4 mi WSW of Weatherford
Measured
56 kt (64 mph)
Coordinates
35.520, -98.780

measured at the Oklahoma Mesonet site

Thunderstorm Wind, Custer

When
June 16, 7:35 PM CST
Where
Custer County, 4 mi WSW of Weatherford
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
35.520, -98.780

measured at the Oklahoma Mesonet site

Hail, Stephens

When
June 16, 7:37 PM CST
Where
Stephens County, Empire City
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
34.420, -98.030

Hail, Garvin

When
June 16, 7:45 PM CST
Where
Garvin County, 4 mi SW of Pauls Valley
Measured
1.25 in hail
Coordinates
34.670, -97.300

Thunderstorm Wind, Hughes

When
June 16, 7:45 PM CST
Where
Hughes County, 2 mi E of Holdenville
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage
$100
Coordinates
35.080, -96.370

Severe thunderstorm winds estimated at over 60 mph uprooted trees and caused extensive limb damage.

Hail, Garvin

When
June 16, 7:50 PM CST
Where
Garvin County, 1 mi S of Pauls Valley
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
34.670, -97.300

Thunderstorm Wind, Blaine

When
June 16, 8:00 PM CST
Where
Blaine County, 4 mi NW of Hydro
Property damage
$500
Coordinates
35.870, -98.420

Severe winds damaged several buildings, including blowing a door off a barn.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson

When
June 16, 8:00 PM CST
Where
Jackson County, Altus
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
34.630, -99.330

Five electric poles were blown over and four hangar doors were blown out at the Municipal Airport. Tree branches were reported down over all of the surrounding area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tillman

When
June 16, 8:00 PM CST
Where
Tillman County, 4 mi S of Tipton
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
34.450, -99.130

measured at the Oklahoma Mesonet site

Thunderstorm Wind, Stephens

When
June 16, 8:10 PM CST
Where
Stephens County, Comanche
Measured
69 kt (79 mph)
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
34.370, -97.970

Severe winds estimated at 75 to 80 mph caused widespread tree, limb, and structural damage in Comanche. Significant damage occurred at the high school gymnasium, where a large window was blown in and northeast portions of the roof were torn off. Damage to the gym was assessed at $22,600. At a city park, the fuel tanks were ripped from a plane on permanent display, and in downtown the siding was torn from a warehouse building. Carports and large trees also suffered major damage throughout town.

Hail, Cleveland

When
June 16, 8:13 PM CST
Where
Cleveland County, 1 mi SW of Norman
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
35.200, -97.470

Thunderstorm Wind, Garvin

When
June 16, 8:17 PM CST
Where
Garvin County, 1 mi N of Paoli
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
34.850, -97.250

Thunderstorm Wind, Tillman

When
June 16, 8:17 PM CST
Where
Tillman County, Davidson
Measured
65 kt (75 mph)
Coordinates
34.230, -99.080

Hail, Stephens

When
June 16, 8:20 PM CST
Where
Stephens County, Marlow
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
34.650, -97.950

Hail, Hughes

When
June 16, 8:25 PM CST
Where
Hughes County, 3 mi E of Holdenville
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
35.080, -96.350

Thunderstorm Wind, Comanche

When
June 16, 8:28 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, 4 mi E of Lawton
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
34.620, -98.330

Thunderstorm Wind, Pottawatomie

When
June 16, 8:28 PM CST
Where
Pottawatomie County, Shawnee
Property damage
$100
Coordinates
35.330, -96.920

Severe thunderstorm winds downed and split large trees, blocking several roads.

Hail, McClain

When
June 16, 8:30 PM CST
Where
McClain County, Purcell
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
35.020, -97.370

Thunderstorm Wind, Stephens

When
June 16, 8:30 PM CST
Where
Stephens County, Marlow
Property damage
$100
Coordinates
34.650, -97.950

Severe thunderstorm winds downed a large tree and knocked out power to the eastern part of town.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tillman

When
June 16, 8:35 PM CST
Where
Tillman County, 3 mi WNW of Grandfield
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
34.250, -98.730

measured at the Oklahoma Mesonet site

Thunderstorm Wind, Seminole

When
June 16, 8:40 PM CST
Where
Seminole County, Seminole
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Property damage
$50,000
Coordinates
35.230, -96.680

Severe thunderstorm winds up to 70 mph caused widespread damage in Seminole. The greatest damage occurred at a motel where the roof was torn off and debris damaged dozens of cars. Signs, trees, and limbs were blown down throughout town.

Hail, Grady

When
June 16, 8:44 PM CST
Where
Grady County, Rush Springs
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
35.030, -97.880

Hail, Stephens

When
June 16, 8:45 PM CST
Where
Stephens County, 4 mi S of Duncan
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
34.470, -97.950

Flash Flood, Hughes

When
June 16, 8:50 PM CST
Where
Hughes County, Gerty
Coordinates
35.048, -96.250 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Streams overflowed and water covered county roads.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tillman

When
June 16, 8:50 PM CST
Where
Tillman County, 3 mi WNW of Grandfield
Measured
54 kt (62 mph)
Coordinates
34.250, -98.730

measured at the Oklahoma Mesonet site

Hail, Hughes

When
June 16, 8:52 PM CST
Where
Hughes County, 4 mi SE of Gerty
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
34.800, -96.230

Hail, Stephens

When
June 16, 8:57 PM CST
Where
Stephens County, Duncan
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
34.520, -97.950

Thunderstorm Wind, Seminole

When
June 16, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Seminole County, Wewoka
Property damage
$100
Coordinates
35.150, -96.480

Severe winds downed large tree limbs.

Hail, Seminole

When
June 16, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Seminole County, 12 mi E of Seminole
Measured
4 in hail
Coordinates
35.230, -96.470

Spotters reported 4-inch hail just north of Highway 9 on Highway 56 east of Seminole.

Hail, Carter

When
June 16, 9:09 PM CST
Where
Carter County, 3 mi N of Ratliff City
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
34.480, -97.500

Hail, Carter

When
June 16, 9:14 PM CST
Where
Carter County, Tussy
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
34.500, -97.530

Thunderstorm Wind, Stephens

When
June 16, 9:15 PM CST
Where
Stephens County, Duncan
Property damage
$1,000
Coordinates
34.520, -97.950

A carport was destroyed and windows were broken out of a residence in southeast Duncan.

Hail, Seminole

When
June 16, 9:20 PM CST
Where
Seminole County, Seminole
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
35.230, -96.680

Thunderstorm Wind, Carter

When
June 16, 10:10 PM CST
Where
Carter County, 2 mi W of Overbrook
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Coordinates
34.300, -97.250

Flash Flood, Stephens

When
June 16, 10:12 PM CST
Where
Stephens County, Comanche
Coordinates
34.486, -97.851 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Highway 81 from Comanche south to the Jefferson county line was closed due to high water.

Flash Flood, Stephens

When
June 16, 10:15 PM CST
Where
Stephens County, 2 mi S of Comanche
Coordinates
34.486, -97.851 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Highway 81 was closed due to the 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

More

Every storm in Oklahoma in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, June 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: 5618432, 5618532, 5618427, 5618448, 5618422, 5618450, 5618451, 5618423, 5618447, 5618429, 5618430, 5618431, 5618599, 5618449, 5618428, 5618598, 5618523, 5618681, 5618524, 5618590, 5618452, 5618453, 5618525, 5618526, 5618513, 5618424, 5618435, 5618594, 5618511, 5618527, 5618601, 5618439, 5618533, 5618534, 5618520, 5618600, 5618535, 5618528, 5618588, 5618522, and more.