Oklahoma, 1999

Flash Flooding in Oklahoma, April 25, 1999

April 25, 1999 · NWS TSA · 10 events in 10 counties and zones

Summary of flash flooding on April 25 1999:A solid area of heavy rainfall lifted northeastward across northeast Oklahoma during the morning and early afternoon of April 25. Widespread rainfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches occurred across the area.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 10 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
$210,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
10

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 flash flooding on April 25 1999:A solid area of heavy rainfall lifted northeastward across northeast Oklahoma during the morning and early afternoon of April 25. Widespread rainfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches occurred across the area. The Tulsa metropolitan area was especially hard-hit as the heaviest rain bands remained stationary over the area for several hours. Some of the largest rainfall amounts for the day are (in inches): Wynona_2S...5.14", Broken Arrow (west)...4.82", Broken Arrow (south)...4.72", Delaware_2SE (Nowata County)...4.53", Skiatook...4.37", Bixby_2NE...4.34", Beggs...4.28", Broken Arrow (east)...4.19", Pawnee_3ENE...4.18", Bixby...3.88", Pryor...3.71", Tulsa (south)...3.54", Centralia_7E...3.37", Claremore...3.35", Miami_2NE...3.30", and Nowata...3.17". Widespread flash flooding took place, and many mainstem rivers rose above flood stage.

The radar

The Tulsa radar (KINX), 34 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 14:28 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Tulsa

When
April 25, 8:30 AM CST to 1:30 PM CST
Where
Tulsa County, Countywide
Property damage
$90,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.121, -95.941 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

In Tulsa, numerous streets were flooded and closed. Some of these streets include 1720 E. Pine, 96th and Sheridan, 71st and Canton, Riverside Drive between 41st and 45th Streets, Lewis Avenue between 61st and 71st Streets, 200 W. 81st Street, 23rd and Yukon, 5th and Madison, and 31st and Utica.In Broken Arrow, Lynn Lane was closed between 101st and 111th Streets. The intersection of 101st and Garnett and a section of 71st Street near the Wagoner county line were also closed. Several homes near Kenosha Street (71st Street) and Oneta Road flooded when street drains backed up.In Bixby, several houses flooded.In Glenpool, a section of 121st Street east of US Hwy 75 partially collapsed.All of the rain caused mainstem river flooding as well, particularly in northern Tulsa County. See river Flood entries in this publication for more details.

Flash Flood, Wagoner

When
April 25, 8:30 AM CST to 1:30 PM CST
Where
Wagoner County, Countywide
Property damage
$30,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.961, -95.521 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

In Coweta, numerous streets and side roads were closed. Coweta Creek overflowed its banks and caused flooding problems in the Cottonwood subdivision.

Flash Flood, Creek

When
April 25, 8:30 AM CST to 1:30 PM CST
Where
Creek County, Countywide
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.903, -96.371 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

OK Hwy 48 along the Deep Fork River in southern Creek County flooded.

Flash Flood, Washington

When
April 25, 8:30 AM CST to 1:30 PM CST
Where
Washington County, Countywide
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.715, -95.904 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

County roads 401 and 402 near highway 60 were closed by high water. Several city parks in Bartlesville experienced flooding.

Flash Flood, Nowata

When
April 25, 8:30 AM CST to 1:30 PM CST
Where
Nowata County, Countywide
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.799, -95.617 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low-lying areas and several county roads flooded across parts of Nowata County.

Flash Flood, Osage

When
April 25, 8:30 AM CST to 1:30 PM CST
Where
Osage County, Countywide
Property damage
$30,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.629, -96.398 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

In Hominy, 6.9 inches of rain caused several streets to close. Three homes in the 1000 block of South Price were evacuated. Evacuations took place from 10th Street on the south side of town. This was the first time that these homes had been evacuated since the 1980's. Areas off of OK Hwy 99 north of town were flooded, and Hwy 99 was closed between Hominy and Cleveland for a time. Penn Creek at the north end of Katy in Hominy flooded the entrance to the City Barn and the Water Department.

Flash Flood, Rogers

When
April 25, 8:30 AM CST to 1:30 PM CST
Where
Rogers County, Countywide
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.372, -95.604 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Near Talala, US Hwy 169 was closed.

Flash Flood, Ottawa

When
April 25, 8:30 AM CST to 1:30 PM CST
Where
Ottawa County, Countywide
Property damage
$30,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.836, -94.810 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several homes in the Sky Ranch subdivision near Tar Creek were flooded. A newspaper photo showd an in-ground pool that "lost its shape" when grounds became saturated. At least five streets in Miami, including Veterans Boulevard, were closed due to flooding, and a bridge near Cardin was closed. The NEO A&M practice field was under water.

Flash Flood, Mayes

When
April 25, 8:30 AM CST to 1:30 PM CST
Where
Mayes County, Countywide
Property damage
$15,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.302, -95.231 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

In Pryor, several homes had water just over their foundations.

Flash Flood, Craig

When
April 25, 8:30 AM CST to 1:30 PM CST
Where
Craig County, Countywide
Property damage
$15,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.762, -95.208 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Throughout Craig County, county roads were flooded. Two vehicles became stuck and submerged in the flooded Pawpaw Creek northwest of Vinita. A newspaper photo showed deep water flowing over Churchill Road.

What these are

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 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: 5689837, 5689838, 5689839, 5689840, 5689841, 5691275, 5691276, 5691277, 5691278, 5691279.