Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Oklahoma, June 8 to 9, 1998

Name: Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Oklahoma, June 8 to 9, 1998
Start: 1998-06-08T06:20
End: 1998-06-09T01:10
Location: Oklahoma

June 8 to 9, 1998 · NWS TSA · 54 events in 15 counties and zones

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $139,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 54

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 TSA wrote it up.

Summary of events for the evening of June 8 and the early morning of June 9 1998:A classic southern plains severe weather event shaped up on the afternoon and evening of June 8 as a number of isolated severe thunderstorms developed over central Oklahoma to the east of a dryline. The first severe thunderstorm to affect eastern Oklahoma scraped the northwestern part of Osage County, causing a report of a severe thunderstorm gust. This storm quickly died as it entered Kansas.A second more serious severe thunderstorm formed west of Oklahoma City and tracked all the way to the Arkansas state line south of Fort Smith, traversing Pittsburg, Haskell, and Le Flore Counties. This storm travelled east along an instability axis and a warm front. From a radar perspective, this storm was impressive in that it kept a classic, well-defined hook on its entire journey across southeast Oklahoma. From a human perspective, this storm was impressive in that it produced ten tornadoes in southeast Oklahoma, hail as large as golfballs, damaging thunderstorm winds, and torrential flooding rains.A third cluster of severe thunderstorms developed over Creek County and moved east across Okmulgee, Muskogee, Cherokee, and Adair Counties before weakening as it entered Arkansas. These storms slowed their movement across Muskogee County and regeneration along the southwest flank of the storms caused torrential rainfalls that dumped nearly three inches of rain in northern Muskogee, southern Cherokee, southern Adair, and northern Sequoyah Counties. In addition to flooding rains, these storms produced hail as large as nickels and damaging thunderstorm winds.

The radar

The Tulsa radar (KINX), 6 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:18 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

19 hail, 18 thunderstorm wind, 10 tornado, 5 flash flood, 2 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Rogers

When: June 8, 6:20 AM CST
Where: Rogers County, Inola
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 36.150, -95.500

Hail, Mayes

When: June 8, 6:30 AM CST
Where: Mayes County, Chouteau
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 36.180, -95.350

Hail, Creek

When: June 8, 8:45 AM CST
Where: Creek County, Bristow
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 35.830, -96.380

Hail, Creek

When: June 8, 8:50 AM CST
Where: Creek County, Bristow
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 35.830, -96.380

Thunderstorm Wind, Adair

When: June 8, 8:55 AM CST
Where: Adair County, 2 mi SW of Bunch
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 35.670, -94.800

Thunderstorm Wind, Adair

When: June 8, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Adair County, Bunch
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 35.680, -94.770

Hail, Tulsa

When: June 8, 9:21 AM CST
Where: Tulsa County, 1 mi SW of Glenpool
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 35.930, -96.020

Hail, Tulsa

When: June 8, 9:33 AM CST
Where: Tulsa County, 2 mi SW of Bixby
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 35.930, -95.920

Thunderstorm Wind, Muskogee

When: June 8, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Muskogee County, Webbers Falls
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 35.520, -95.130

Thunderstorm Wind, Sequoyah

When: June 8, 10:15 AM CST
Where: Sequoyah County, 7 mi NW of Vian
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 35.570, -95.050

Summary of events for the morning of June 8 1998:An area of showers and thunderstorms with scattered embedded severe thunderstorms moved quickly northeast across northeast Oklahoma on the morning of June 8. These storms were in response to an upper level disturbance interacting with elevated instability. The primary threats with these thunderstorms were hail as large as quarters and marginally severe wind gusts.

Thunderstorm Wind, Osage

When: June 8, 4:35 PM CST
Where: Osage County, 8 mi W of Burbank
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 36.700, -96.870

Funnel Cloud, Osage

When: June 8, 4:45 PM CST
Where: Osage County, 2 mi NW of Shidler
Coordinates: 36.629, -96.398 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Emergency management reported funnel cloud between Shidler and Webb City.

Hail, McIntosh

When: June 8, 7:05 PM CST
Where: McIntosh County, Hanna
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 35.200, -95.880

Thunderstorm Wind, McIntosh

When: June 8, 7:14 PM CST
Where: McIntosh County, 1 mi N of Hanna
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 35.220, -95.880

Location: near the toll gate on the Indian Nations Turnpike

Tornado, Pittsburg

When: June 8, 7:28 PM CST to 7:39 PM CST
Where: Pittsburg County, Scipio to 7 mi WSW of Indianola
Rating: F0
Path length: 9 mi
Path width: 200 yd
Coordinates: 35.120, -96.050

Tornado, Pittsburg

When: June 8, 7:43 PM CST to 7:55 PM CST
Where: Pittsburg County, Indianola to 4 mi W of Crowder
Rating: F0
Path length: 8 mi
Path width: 200 yd
Coordinates: 35.130, -95.830

Tornado, Pittsburg

When: June 8, 7:55 PM CST to 7:58 PM CST
Where: Pittsburg County, Crowder to 4 mi W of Crowder
Rating: F0
Path length: 2 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Coordinates: 35.100, -95.730

Tornado, Pittsburg

When: June 8, 8:10 PM CST to 8:28 PM CST
Where: Pittsburg County, Blocker to 3 mi NE of Featherston
Rating: F0
Path length: 12 mi
Path width: 200 yd
Coordinates: 35.100, -95.600

Tornado, Pittsburg

When: June 8, 8:31 PM CST to 8:32 PM CST
Where: Pittsburg County, 1 mi NE of Blocker
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.5 mi
Path width: 30 yd
Coordinates: 35.080, -95.550

Flash Flood, Pittsburg

When: June 8, 8:35 PM CST to 9:30 PM CST
Where: Pittsburg County, Northeast Portion
Coordinates: 34.924, -95.748 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

SH 71 was closed 2 miles north of Quinton due to considerable water over the roadway.

Tornado, Pittsburg

When: June 8, 8:40 PM CST to 8:41 PM CST
Where: Pittsburg County, Quinton to 2 mi SE of Quinton
Rating: F1
Path length: 1 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $30,000
Coordinates: 35.100, -95.330

This tornado moved from Pittsburg into Haskell County at 941 PM CDT. Two houses were heavily damaged south of Quinton.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pittsburg

When: June 8, 8:40 PM CST
Where: Pittsburg County, 1 mi SW of Quinton
Measured: 88 kt (101 mph)
Coordinates: 35.100, -95.380

Tornado, Haskell

When: June 8, 8:41 PM CST to 8:47 PM CST
Where: Haskell County, Lewisville to 4 mi WSW of Kinta
Rating: F0
Path length: 4 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Coordinates: 35.120, -95.330

This tornado originally developed in Pittsburg County and then moved into Haskell County at 941 PM CDT.

Flash Flood, Haskell

When: June 8, 8:45 PM CST
Where: Haskell County, Countywide
Coordinates: 35.225, -95.117 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Longtown Creek overflowed its banks 5 miles south of Enterprise. The NWS cooperative observer 1_SE McCurtain reported 2.00 inches of rain from the intense isolated thunderstorm that moved eastward across Haskell County.

Tornado, Pittsburg

When: June 8, 8:51 PM CST
Where: Pittsburg County, Russellville
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.5 mi
Path width: 30 yd
Coordinates: 35.150, -95.450

Tornado, Haskell

When: June 8, 8:55 PM CST
Where: Haskell County, 2 mi S of Kinta
Rating: F2
Path length: 0.5 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $60,000
Coordinates: 35.080, -95.230

An F2 tornado destroyed one single family dwelling, while another single family dwelling received major damage.

Hail, Creek

When: June 8, 9:25 PM CST
Where: Creek County, 4 mi W of Depew
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 35.800, -96.570

Location: along old Route 66

Thunderstorm Wind, Okfuskee

When: June 8, 9:37 PM CST
Where: Okfuskee County, 8 mi N of Castle
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Coordinates: 35.580, -96.380

Hail, Le Flore

When: June 8, 9:46 PM CST
Where: Le Flore County, 3 mi W of Panama
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 35.170, -94.720

Funnel Cloud, Le Flore

When: June 8, 9:50 PM CST
Where: Le Flore County, Calhoun
Coordinates: 34.900, -94.703 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Okmulgee

When: June 8, 9:53 PM CST
Where: Okmulgee County, 3 mi W of Beggs
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 35.730, -96.120

Hail, Le Flore

When: June 8, 9:55 PM CST
Where: Le Flore County, Spiro
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 35.230, -94.630

Thunderstorm Wind, Le Flore

When: June 8, 9:56 PM CST
Where: Le Flore County, Panama
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 35.170, -94.670

Tornado, Le Flore

When: June 8, 9:56 PM CST
Where: Le Flore County, 2 mi W of Shady Pt
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.5 mi
Path width: 30 yd
Coordinates: 35.130, -94.700

Hail, Okmulgee

When: June 8, 9:57 PM CST to 9:58 PM CST
Where: Okmulgee County, Beggs
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 35.730, -96.070

Thunderstorm Wind, Okmulgee

When: June 8, 9:57 PM CST
Where: Okmulgee County, Beggs
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 35.730, -96.070

Thunderstorm Wind, Le Flore

When: June 8, 10:08 PM CST
Where: Le Flore County, Shady Pt
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Coordinates: 35.130, -94.670

Thunderstorm Wind, Le Flore

When: June 8, 10:09 PM CST
Where: Le Flore County, Poteau
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Coordinates: 35.050, -94.620

Hail, Le Flore

When: June 8, 10:13 PM CST
Where: Le Flore County, 2 mi N of Cameron
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 35.170, -94.550

Hail, Muskogee

When: June 8, 10:40 PM CST
Where: Muskogee County, Taft
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 35.770, -95.530

Location: Taft Lake

Hail, Muskogee

When: June 8, 10:46 PM CST
Where: Muskogee County, Muskogee
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 35.750, -95.370

Hail, Muskogee

When: June 8, 11:00 PM CST
Where: Muskogee County, 2 mi W of Muskogee
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 35.750, -95.400

Thunderstorm Wind, Muskogee

When: June 8, 11:03 PM CST
Where: Muskogee County, Muskogee
Property damage: $2,000
Coordinates: 35.750, -95.370

A wind-driven tree limb penetrated the roof of a residence east of Country Club Road on Old Shawnee Avenue. A large tree was also blown over in Civitan Park.

Hail, Muskogee

When: June 8, 11:10 PM CST
Where: Muskogee County, Braggs
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 35.670, -95.200

Thunderstorm Wind, Muskogee

When: June 8, 11:15 PM CST
Where: Muskogee County, Ft Gibson
Property damage: $25,000
Coordinates: 35.800, -95.250

A church under construction collapsed, and large trees were blown down. Power lines were also blown down, and a pontoon boat was flipped.

Flash Flood, Muskogee

When: June 8, 11:35 PM CST to June 9, 12:30 AM CST
Where: Muskogee County, Central Portion
Coordinates: 35.616, -95.379 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

US Hwy 69 was covered by one foot of water in Muskogee. The NWS cooperative observer in Muskogee reported 2.57 inches of rain.

Hail, Cherokee

When: June 8, 11:45 PM CST
Where: Cherokee County, 8 mi SW of Pettit
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 35.680, -95.070

Location: Tenkiller Harbor

Thunderstorm Wind, Muskogee

When: June 8, 11:50 PM CST
Where: Muskogee County, Braggs
Property damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 35.670, -95.200

Numerous trees blown down around Braggs

Flash Flood, Adair

When: June 9, 12:00 AM CST to 1:00 AM CST
Where: Adair County, South Portion
Coordinates: 35.884, -94.659 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

About three inches of rain washed gravel off of county roads near Bunch. The NWS cooperative observer 2 miles north of Lyons measured 2.82 inches of rain.

Thunderstorm Wind, Adair

When: June 9, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Adair County, Bunch
Property damage: $100
Coordinates: 35.680, -94.770

Several large tree limbs were blown down

Flash Flood, Cherokee

When: June 9, 12:15 AM CST
Where: Cherokee County, South Portion
Coordinates: 35.907, -95.000 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

County roads in the Woodall community (10 miles southwest of Tahlequah) were flooded. The Oklahoma mesonet site just SSW of Cookson measured 2.76 inches of rain.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cherokee

When: June 9, 12:15 AM CST
Where: Cherokee County, 10 mi SW of Tahlequah
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 35.820, -95.100

Thunderstorm winds blew 20-30 big trees down, destroyed three barns, and unroofed a shed near the Woodall community.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sequoyah

When: June 9, 12:30 AM CST
Where: Sequoyah County, Marble City
Property damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 35.580, -94.820

Numerous trees were blown down

Hail, Sequoyah

When: June 9, 1:10 AM CST
Where: Sequoyah County, Roland
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 35.420, -94.520

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.
Funnel Cloud: A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
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

Every storm in Oklahoma in 1998 Every state in 1998 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Oklahoma, 1998 Warnings in Oklahoma, June 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: 5645456, 5645457, 5645458, 5645459, 5645461, 5645460, 5645463, 5645462, 5645464, 5645575, 5645583, 5644010, 5645589, 5645590, 5644015, 5644016, 5644017, 5644018, 5644019, 5645576, 5644020, 5644025, 5644021, 5645577, 5644022, 5644023, 5645591, 5644006, 5644011, 5644012, 5645592, 5644013, 5644007, 5644024, 5644026, 5644027, 5644014, 5644008, 5644009, 5645584, and more.