Oklahoma, 1999

Flooding in Oklahoma, April 14, 1999

April 14, 1999 · NWS OUN · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

Between 3 and 6 inches of rain fell across much of northwest and north central Oklahoma during the morning and afternoon of the 14th, resulting in flooding. The worst flooding occurred in northern Alfalfa County near Cherokee, Byron, Driftwood, and Burlington were localized rainfall amounts exceeded 7 inches.

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
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  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$100,000
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.

What happened

The episode as NWS OUN wrote it up.

Between 3 and 6 inches of rain fell across much of northwest and north central Oklahoma during the morning and afternoon of the 14th, resulting in flooding. The worst flooding occurred in northern Alfalfa County near Cherokee, Byron, Driftwood, and Burlington were localized rainfall amounts exceeded 7 inches. Cottonwood Canyon Bridge on N. Grand in Cherokee was flooded, and many rivers and creeks in northern Alfalfa County including Medicine River, Driftwood Creek and Stinky Creek flowed out of their banks. Eagle Chief Creek southwest of Dacoma in Woods County and Willow Creek 3 miles east of Highway 183 in northeast Harper County also overflowed their banks. Also in Harper County, a road north of Selmen and a county road near Willow Creek were closed due to high water. In Woodward County, Highway 132 south of Manchester to Highway 11 was water covered and closed in spots; Highway 81 in Jefferson was impassible due to high water and was closed around 1500 CST; a pond dam near Woodward broke, flooding the intersection of Hank's Trail and Spring Valley Dr; a county road on the east end of Lawsuit Lake was flooded north of Quinlan; Highway 412 west of Mooreland was covered with water, and the Mooreland City Park was flooded.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

6 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Alfalfa

When
April 14, 9:00 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Alfalfa forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.731, -98.324 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Ellis

When
April 14, 9:00 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Ellis forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.218, -99.755 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Grant

When
April 14, 9:00 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Grant forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.796, -97.786 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Harper

When
April 14, 9:00 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Harper forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.789, -99.667 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Woods

When
April 14, 9:00 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Woods forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.767, -98.865 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Woodward

When
April 14, 9:00 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Woodward forecast zone
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.423, -99.265 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Oklahoma in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, April 1999

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: 5696499, 5696500, 5696501, 5696502, 5696503, 5696504.