Summary of flooding events for September 13-14 1998:Tropical Storm "Frances" moved onshore the Texas coast on September 11 and moved northward through eastern Texas, bringing much-needed rainfall to eastern Oklahoma by September 12. As is typical with inland tropical systems, the heaviest rainfall took place during the overnight hours, specifically on the early morning of the 13th and again on…
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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 episode as NWS TSA wrote it up.
Summary of flooding events for September 13-14 1998:Tropical Storm "Frances" moved onshore the Texas coast on September 11 and moved northward through eastern Texas, bringing much-needed rainfall to eastern Oklahoma by September 12. As is typical with inland tropical systems, the heaviest rainfall took place during the overnight hours, specifically on the early morning of the 13th and again on the 14th. Rains on the 12th mostly affected southeast Oklahoma and soaked into the soil readily because of the drought that plagued central and southern Oklahoma through July and August. On the 13th, the circulation associated with Frances had nearly dissipated over northeast Texas, but a fetch of deep tropical moisture was established from the Gulf of Mexico right into eastern Oklahoma, bringing widespread 1-3 inch rains to all of eastern Oklahoma early on the 13th. Again, most of this rain soaked into the soil because of the dry preceding conditions. By late on the evening of the 13th, most soils were finally near saturation.Early on the morning of the 14th, an approaching upper level disturbance combined with the fetch of rich moisture to enhance rainfall in an area roughly following US Hwy 69 from Eufaula to Miami. Overnight rainfall totals of 4 to 5 inches were common in this area with local amounts in excess of 7 inches, causing flash flooding to commence. Most of the flooding involved the inundation of low-water crossings and even some main highways. In addition to the flash flooding described above, the Neosho River at Commerce rose above flood stage on the 15th and 16th.Some two-day rainfall totals include (in inches): Muskogee Davis Field (MKO)...8.08, Spavinaw Dam...8.07, Oktaha_2NE...7.42, Webbers Falls_3S...7.33, Miami_2NE...7.00, Vinita_2N...6.72, Checotah...6.70, Wagoner...6.66, Wilburton_9ENE...6.42, Pryor_6N...6.24, Jay_4N...6.13, Sallisaw_2SSW...6.11, and Delaware_3SE (Nowata mesonet)...5.52.
The Tulsa radar (KINX), 59 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:45 UTC.
8 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Low-lying spots on several roads in Sequoyah State Park were flooded. Water was at the edge of the roadway on State Hwy 51.
Georgetown Road and several county roads were flooded near Fort Gibson.
Several low-water bridges were flooded and there was other street flooding in and near Tahlequah.
There was one foot of water over some county roads, and low water bridges were flooded.
State Highway 10 west of Miami overflowed with water. Some cars were stranded by the high water. Some low-water bridges and county roads were flooded throughout the county.
Little Sallisaw Creek north of Marble City overflowed a low-water crossing.
Several county roads were flooded near the town of Kansas.
Several low-water bridges were flooded and impassable, while other county roads were flooded near Muskogee.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oklahoma in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, September 1998
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: 5663834, 5663836, 5663835, 5663837, 5663839, 5663838, 5663840, 5663841.