Oklahoma, 1997Flash Flooding in Oklahoma, September 22 to 23, 1997
September 22 to 23, 1997 · NWS OUN · 5 events in 5 counties and zones
Summary of events of late evening of September 22, 1997 through early morning of September 23, 1997:Slow-moving thunderstorms moved repeatedly over portions of northern and western Oklahoma, causing extensive flash flooding in some areas. Tillman, Custer, and Alfalfa Counties were particularly hard-hit, with rainfall amounts around 9 inches at some locations, severe flooding in Tipton (Tillman…
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.
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Property damage
- $125,000
- 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.
Summary of events of late evening of September 22, 1997 through early morning of September 23, 1997:Slow-moving thunderstorms moved repeatedly over portions of northern and western Oklahoma, causing extensive flash flooding in some areas. Tillman, Custer, and Alfalfa Counties were particularly hard-hit, with rainfall amounts around 9 inches at some locations, severe flooding in Tipton (Tillman County), Cherokee (Alfalfa County), and western Custer County. See preceding individual Storm Data entries for further details and additional reports.
Flash Flood, Tillman
- When
- September 22, 11:00 PM CST to September 23, 3:00 AM CST
- Where
- Tillman County, Tipton
- Property damage
- $125,000
- Coordinates
- 34.373, -98.924 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
After 9.5 inches of rain fell in less than 24 hours, with most of the rain falling in a 4 hour period from 21:30 CST on the 22nd to 01:30 CST on the 23rd, streets of Tipton looked more like rivers than roads. Water up to five feet deep flowed down Main Street in downtown. At least 19 residences, 4 businesses, a post office, and a church were flooded. Highway 5 near town was also impassable.
Flash Flood, Custer
- When
- September 22, 11:30 PM CST to September 23, 1:30 AM CST
- Where
- Custer County, 10 mi W of Butler
- Injuries
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Coordinates
- 35.639, -99.001 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
After 7 to 9 inches of rain fell in western Custer County, a normally dry tributary of the Washita River flooded to 12 to 15 feet, washing out the road and tinhorn at a low water crossing. In two separate incidents, a tractor trailer and a car drove into the flood waters. In the first case a car containing four people was washed a few feet downstream, but all occupants escaped without assistance or injury. In the second instance a truck drove into the washed-out road and was overturned by the flooded stream. The driver broke the window and escaped, and was carried 150 yards downstream before grabbing a tree. About two hours later emergency personnel were able to rescue the man from the water. The man suffered from hypothermia and extreme exhaustion and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Flash Flood, Kiowa
- When
- September 23, 12:00 AM CST
- Where
- Kiowa County, Hobart
- Coordinates
- 34.916, -98.981 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A few county roads near Hobart were covered with up to six inches of water.
Flash Flood, Alfalfa
- When
- September 23, 2:00 AM CST
- Where
- Alfalfa County, Cherokee
- Coordinates
- 36.731, -98.324 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
State Highway 8 just north of Cherokee was closed due to flash flooding. Up to 2 feet of water flooded the northern parts of Cherokee. Several homes, for a total of 12 people, were evacuated due to rising water.
Flash Flood, Major
- When
- September 23, 2:00 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
- Where
- Major County, Countywide
- Coordinates
- 36.312, -98.536 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
State Highway 60 closed between Seiling and Fairview. Numerous streets in Fairview were closed due to flooding.
- 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.
- Flooding in New Mexico, September 22 to 23, 19972 events
- Cold in West Virginia, September 22, 19972 events
- High Wind in Alaska, September 22 to 23, 19972 events
- Heavy Rain in Alaska, September 22 to 23, 19971 event
- Flood in Puerto Rico, September 22, 19971 event
- Funnel Cloud in Wyoming, September 22, 19971 event
- High Wind in Alaska, September 22 to 23, 19971 event
- High Wind in Alaska, September 22 to 23, 19971 event
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: 5617046, 5617048, 5617044, 5617045, 5617047.