Flood in Oklahoma, March 16 to 19, 1998

A slow-moving storm system produced heavy rainfall over much of southwest Oklahoma and western North Texas and parts of central, and southeast Oklahoma during mid March. Precipitation totals between 3 and 6 inches were recorded during the three-day period of March 15-17, 1998. As a result, minor to moderate flooding occurred over a widespread area, and crests above flood stage were recorded at 28 forecast points and 9 data points in the Norman hydrologic service area. Only the west-central and northwest portions of Oklahoma did not incur flooding during the period. A second round of showers and thunderstorms moved through the area during the late evening hours of the 18th and early morning hours of the 19th. Precipitation totals between 1 and 2 inches helped produce secondary crests on some rivers. Most of the river crests occurred between March 16 and March 19. Flood stages were exceeded at some locations as early as 8 p.m. CST on March 15 and as late as 11 p.m. CST on March 24.The most significant flooding occurred in southwest Oklahoma, where crests of between 5 and 10 feet above flood stage were recorded at some sites.Some of the major rivers and creeks which flooded in Oklahoma include the Clear Boggy, Cobb, Cottonwood, East Cache, Kingfisher, Mud, and Muddy Boggy Creeks, Deep Red Run, and the Blue, Canadian, Chikaskia, Cimarron, Deep Fork, Little, North Canadian, North Fork of the Red, Red, Salt Fork of the Arkansas and Washita Rivers. In western North Texas, flooding occurred along the South Wichita and Little Wichita Rivers, and Beaver Creek near Electra, Texas.In addition, other minor tributaries and streams also overflowed their banks and produced minor to moderate flooding. These streams include the Bell Cow, Cache, Chuckwa, Cow, Deer, Driftwood, Eagle Chief, Otter, Preacher, Skeleton, Turkey and Wildhorse Creeks in Oklahoma and China, Groesbeck, Paradise and Wanderers Creeks in western North Texas.Several state highways were closed in portions of Oklahoma and western North Texas due to the flooding, and widespread areas of agricultural lands and rural roads were also inundated. However, no deaths or injuries were reported as a direct result of the flooding. Deer Creek firefighters rescued a woman and her 6-year-old child after their car ran into a ditch along the flooded intersection at NW 190th Street and Meridian Avenue 6 miles west of Edmond, OK. This flooding was produced by Deer Creek.The most significant flood damage occurred along the Cimarron River in Logan County, where soil erosion along the north bank of the river claimed 2 houses and 1 mobile home in the Twin Lakes Sports Club near Crescent, OK. A total of 15 homes were evacuated by the Logan County Sheriff during the event. Environmental River Erosion Control (EREC) personnel reported that approximately 150 feet of the north bank had been washed away as a result of the floodwaters and that the bank was being eroded at rates up to 10 feet an hour during the peak of the flood. Damage estimates were around $100,000.Significant bank erosion was also reported along the Washita River near Chickasha, OK and the Pease River near Vernon, TX.Floodwaters along Driftwood Creek in destroyed a bridge detour at a road construction site along State Highway 11 about 1 mile west of Burlington, OK. Damage estimates were approximately $50,000.Residents in and near Walters, OK were forced to sandbag their homes due to flooding from the East Cache Creek. East Cache Creek crested at 28.3 feet during the early morning hours of March 17, 7.3 feet above flood stage.Some of the road closures included: Meridian Avenue from Edmond Road to Covell near Edmond, OKState Highway 18 south of Chandler, OKState Highway 131 in Wardville, OKState Highway 5A west of Temple, OKState Highway 5B between 5A and U.S. Highway 70State Highway 152 near Eakley, OKState Highway 36 near Grandfield, OKState Highway 5 east of Frederick, OK