Oklahoma, 1998

Flash Flooding and Lightning Strike in Oklahoma, January 4 to 5, 1998

January 4 to 5, 1998 · NWS OUN · 6 events in 5 counties and zones

5 flash flood, 1 lightning, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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
$75,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

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.

The radar

The Norman radar (KTLX), 63 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:10 UTC.

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Event by event

5 flash flood, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Seminole

When
January 4, 5:10 AM CST
Where
Seminole County, Little
Property damage
$75,000
Coordinates
35.168, -96.615 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning struck and set fire to a house. The house and its contents were destroyed.

Flash Flood, Pontotoc

When
January 4, 7:40 AM CST
Where
Pontotoc County, 3 mi N of Ada
Coordinates
34.728, -96.684 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A county bridge north of Ada was flooded.

Flash Flood, Murray

When
January 4, 10:45 AM CST to 11:45 AM CST
Where
Murray County, 1 mi S of Sulphur
Coordinates
34.482, -97.068 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

After 3.3 inches of rain fell at the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, two feet of water covered roads at three low water crossings and water was standing in picnic areas.

Flash Flood, Choctaw

When
January 4, 8:30 PM CST
Where
Choctaw County, Hugo
Coordinates
34.027, -95.552 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Water covered several roads in town.

Flash Flood, Atoka

When
January 5, 1:30 AM CST
Where
Atoka County, 1 mi E of Wardville
Coordinates
34.374, -96.038 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Highway 131 was closed due to high water.

Flash Flood, Choctaw

When
January 5, 1:30 AM CST
Where
Choctaw County, 10 mi SW of Hugo
Coordinates
34.027, -95.552 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash flood waters washed away trees and a portion of Highway 109.

What these are

Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
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 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, January 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: 5633942, 5633941, 5633940, 5633943, 5633944, 5633945.