Oklahoma, 1998

Flash Flooding and Hail in Oklahoma, April 26, 1998

April 26, 1998 · NWS OUN · 19 events in 12 counties and zones

Summary of events of April 26, 1998:Early morning thunderstorms in western Oklahoma produced hail as large as quarters. By early afternoon, the storms had formed a squall line that moved across central and eastern sections of the state during the afternoon and evening hours.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 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
0
Property damage
$181,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
19

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 April 26, 1998:Early morning thunderstorms in western Oklahoma produced hail as large as quarters. By early afternoon, the storms had formed a squall line that moved across central and eastern sections of the state during the afternoon and evening hours. Several reports of severe thunderstorm wind damage were received, including two mobile homes that were unroofed near Lone Grove in Carter County. Widespread 24-hour rainfall totals of 3 to 4 inches caused flash flooding in many areas. Particularly hard-hit were Garvin, Jefferson, Carter, and Seminole Counties.See preceding individual Storm Data entries for further information and additional reports.

The radar

The Vance AFB radar (KVNX), 85 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 09:05 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 flash flood, 6 hail, 6 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Major

When
April 26, 3:05 AM CST
Where
Major County, 5 mi E of Chester
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
36.220, -98.830

Hail, Cotton

When
April 26, 7:30 AM CST
Where
Cotton County, 7 mi SE of Temple
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
34.200, -98.150

Hail, Jefferson

When
April 26, 7:35 AM CST
Where
Jefferson County, Hastings
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
34.230, -98.120

Hail, Stephens

When
April 26, 8:00 AM CST
Where
Stephens County, 4 mi SE of Bray
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
34.600, -97.750

Hail, Tillman

When
April 26, 12:50 PM CST
Where
Tillman County, 6 mi SW of Grandfield
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
34.170, -98.750

Hail, Pontotoc

When
April 26, 3:28 PM CST
Where
Pontotoc County, 8 mi NW of Ada
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
34.850, -96.770

Flash Flood, Stephens

When
April 26, 5:15 PM CST
Where
Stephens County, Marlow
Coordinates
34.486, -97.851 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash flooding washed out a road and flooded two streets.

Thunderstorm Wind, Carter

When
April 26, 5:55 PM CST
Where
Carter County, Lone Grove
Property damage
$10,000
Coordinates
34.170, -97.270

Severe thunderstorm winds unroofed two mobile homes.

Thunderstorm Wind, Carter

When
April 26, 6:05 PM CST
Where
Carter County, Ardmore
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
34.180, -97.130

Numerous tree limbs and power lines were downed by severe thunderstorm winds. A carport was also damaged.

Thunderstorm Wind, Johnston

When
April 26, 7:00 PM CST
Where
Johnston County, 4 mi W of Nida
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage
$500
Coordinates
34.150, -96.570

Severe thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 mph blew down 6-inch diameter tree limbs and knocked out power.

Flash Flood, Jefferson

When
April 26, 7:00 PM CST
Where
Jefferson County, Waurika
Coordinates
34.111, -97.836 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two-inch rain on already saturated ground caused flash flooding of low-lying areas and resulted in several road closings in the Waurika area.

Flash Flood, Garvin

When
April 26, 7:20 PM CST
Where
Garvin County, Pauls Vly
Coordinates
34.705, -97.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

After 3 to 4 inches of rain fell during the afternoon and evening, Highway 19 was closed due to high water between Maysville and Pauls Valley. In the business district of Pauls Valley, water rose to depths of 4 to 5 inches deep.

Thunderstorm Wind, Coal

When
April 26, 7:35 PM CST
Where
Coal County, Coalgate
Property damage
$3,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
34.530, -96.220

Severe thunderstorm winds destroyed a barn near the junction of Highways 3 and 75. Power lines and trees were also downed across Coal County.

Thunderstorm Wind, Atoka

When
April 26, 7:45 PM CST
Where
Atoka County, 12 mi S of Atoka
Property damage
$500
Coordinates
34.220, -96.130

Severe thunderstorm winds downed power lines.

Thunderstorm Wind, Atoka

When
April 26, 7:55 PM CST
Where
Atoka County, 7 mi SE of Atoka
Property damage
$500
Coordinates
34.320, -96.050

Severe thunderstorm winds downed power lines.

Flash Flood, Seminole

When
April 26, 8:30 PM CST to 10:30 PM CST
Where
Seminole County, Countywide
Property damage
$165,000
Coordinates
35.168, -96.615 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Rainfall amounts upwards of 3 inches caused widespread creek, ditch, and street flooding across Seminole County. Numerous driveways built across ditches (tinhorns) across the county were washed out and several roads were closed. Tragically, a mother and her two children drowned in a swolen creek. Investigators determined that flooding was not the direct cause of the accident since she was not washed off the road; rather, she had simply driven off of the roadway in the darkness and the family was not able to escape the vehicle.

Flash Flood, Seminole

When
April 26, 8:55 PM CST
Where
Seminole County, Seminole
Coordinates
35.168, -96.615 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several streets in northeast Seminole were barricaded due to high water. Several cars were stalled in the high water around town.

Flash Flood, Seminole

When
April 26, 9:25 PM CST
Where
Seminole County, 1 mi N of Sasakwa
Coordinates
35.168, -96.615 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash flooding washed out a bridge on Highway 56 and a car was subsequently washed off the road. One person was rescued.

Flash Flood, Garvin

When
April 26, 10:00 PM CST
Where
Garvin County, Stratford
Coordinates
34.705, -97.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

After 3.8 inches of rain fell in Stratford, water as high as waist-deep was reported in parts of town.

What these are

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.
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.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Oklahoma in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, April 1998

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: 5660273, 5660271, 5660272, 5660274, 5660277, 5660270, 5660278, 5660284, 5660275, 5660281, 5660286, 5660282, 5660287, 5660280, 5660279, 5660374, 5660283, 5660276, 5660285.