Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Oklahoma, June 16 to 17, 1997

Severe thunderstorms moved across eastern Oklahoma during the late afternoon and evening of June 16th. The storms spawned 4 brief tornadoes and also produced damaging winds and large hail. The tornadoes touched down at 1710CST 1 mile northwest of Eufaula, at 1745CST 2 miles west of Enterprise, at 2000CST 3 miles south of Mason, and at 2040CST just west of Schulter. Large trees were downed by the tornado 3 miles south of Mason, but no structural damage occurred with any of the tornadoes, and all 4 tornadoes were rated F0 in intensity.Thunderstorm winds estimated at 80 miles an hour damaged 2 homes, a school annex, and 6 barns and sheds 4 miles east northeast of Mason. Numerous trees were also blown down at a pecan orchard in this same area. Strong thunderstorm winds downed trees and caused structural damage 2 miles southwest of Okfuskee, and a tree was blown over into a trailer 3 miles southwest of Nowata. Strong winds blew a window out of City Hall and downed large tree limbs in Fairfax, and a fence was blown down in Octavia. Trees were blown down near Octavia and 4 miles north of McAlester, and trees and several large tree limbs were blown down 5 miles west of Nowata. Large tree limbs were blown down 2 miles southeast of Talihina, 7 miles west of Nowata, in Weleetka, and in Tahlequah. Thunderstorm winds gusted to 75 to 100 miles an hour in Henryetta, to 60 to 80 miles an hour in Welty, and to 70 miles an hour in Eufaula. Thunderstorm winds gusted up to 65 miles an hour at an automated observing site 7 miles southwest of Burbank and to 60 miles an hour at several other locations in eastern Oklahoma.5 to 5.50 inch diameter hail fell 3 miles north of Eufaula, and softball size hail went through the roof of a house and broke car windshields 5 miles north of Eufaula. 2 inch diameter hail damaged several vehicles in Texanna, and golfball size hail fell at Stidham, 2 miles south southwest of Onapa, at Eufaula, at Whitefield, 4 miles north of McAlester, 3 miles north of McAlester, 3 miles southwest of Welty, at Welty, and 4 miles east northeast of Mason. Half dollar to 1.50 inch diameter hail fell at Muskogee, and half dollar size hail fell 1 mile northwest of Pharoah. Quarter to half dollar size hail fell at McAlester, and dime to quarter size hail fell at numerous other locations in eastern Oklahoma.The storms also produced very heavy rainfall which resulted in flash flooding. In Haskell County, numerous roads were covered by water in McCurtain, and Main Street in McCurtain was flooded. In Latimer County, numerous county roads were flooded in the western part of the county, and Bandy Creek on the southwest side of Wilburton overflowed its banks. In Le Flore County, several streets in Poteau were flooded, and a bridge on Tarvey Road in Poteau was barricaded. In Pittsburg County, Gene Stipe Boulevard in McAlester was covered by high water near Electric Road, and many other city streets in McAlester were flooded. State Highway 31 was closed west of McAlester due to high water, and numerous county roads were flooded near Quinton. In McIntosh County, numerous city streets were flooded in Eufaula. In Muskogee County, numerous streets were covered by high water on the south side of Porum. In Cherokee County, street flooding occurred in Tahlequah, and numerous county roads were covered by high water in and north of Tahlequah. Woodard Road north of Tahlequah had the worst flooding in Cherokee County.