Oklahoma, 1999Flash Flooding and Lightning Strike in Oklahoma, April 26, 1999
April 26, 1999 · NWS TSA · 17 events in 16 counties and zones
Summary of flash flooding on April 26 1999:Following three to five inches of rain on April 25, a broad band of rain and thunderstorms shifted across all of eastern Oklahoma on the morning of April 26 in advance of a closed upper-level low. 5 to 3 inches of rain fell, bringing two-day rainfall totals for much of northeast Oklahoma into the 5- to 7-inch range.
Every event with a place to put it; 17 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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- 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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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $360,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 17
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.
Summary of flash flooding on April 26 1999:Following three to five inches of rain on April 25, a broad band of rain and thunderstorms shifted across all of eastern Oklahoma on the morning of April 26 in advance of a closed upper-level low. Widespread rainfall amounts of 1.5 to 3 inches of rain fell, bringing two-day rainfall totals for much of northeast Oklahoma into the 5- to 7-inch range. With grounds already saturated from rains the day before and creeks already flowing high, this added rainfall led to more serious flash flooding across much of northeast Oklahoma. The heaviest rain fell in the northeast corner of the state. The following are some of the heavier rainfall amounts measured on the morning of April 26 (in inches): Vinita...3.11", Claremore...3.08", Big Cabin...2.58", Commerce...2.49", Tahlequah_4N...2.09", Okemah...2.00", and Bixby_2NE...1.86". The new round of rainfall worsened what was already major mainstem river flooding.
Flash Flood, Creek
- When
- April 26, 9:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
- Where
- Creek County, Countywide
- Property damage
- $50,000
- Reported by
- NEWSPAPER
- Coordinates
- 35.903, -96.371 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High water forced the closing of east- and west-bound lanes on the Turner Turnpike (Interstate 44) near Sapulpa. Rock Creek in Sapulpa flooded causing the evacuation of several homes and businesses. Two businesses in downtown Sapulpa suffered minor damage from the floodwaters of Rock Creek. There was also street flooding in Bristow, and numerous county roads were flooded. Schools in Kiefer and Lone Star let out early for the day. At least three county roads were washed out. One of the washed-out roads was south of Milfay, stranding about six families.
Flash Flood, Okfuskee
- When
- April 26, 9:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
- Where
- Okfuskee County, Countywide
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 35.466, -96.323 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
In Okemah, there was street flooding. OK Hwy 48 was closed for a time when Little Wewoka Creek inundated the highway for a short time. Also, the North Canadian River north of Bearden rose enough to cover a portion of OK Hwy 48.
Flash Flood, Tulsa
- When
- April 26, 9:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
- Where
- Tulsa County, Countywide
- Property damage
- $40,000
- Reported by
- NEWSPAPER
- Coordinates
- 36.121, -95.941 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
More than 20 streets in Tulsa had to be closed. Tulsa police responded to 39 vehicles that were stalled in high water. Mingo Creek overflowed, flooding undeveloped areas near 36th Street North. Lower Haikey Creek at 101st Street also overflowed its banks. In Glenpool, water seeped into five homes, and firefighters had to free passengers from vehicles in two separate incidents. Street closings included 121st Street and Elwood, and 181st Street west of US Hwy 75. Flooding in a few homes and street flooding were also reported from Jenks and Bixby.Low-lying rural roads near Owasso also had flooding problems. Otherwise, mainstem river flooding along the Bird Creek affected northern Tulsa County. See the separate river Flood entry for more details.In Sand Springs, a daycare center on 177th West Avenue north of Shell Creek Lake dam had to be evacuated.In Broken Arrow, several streets were flooded, including Kenosha and Midway, Kenosha and Shelby Lane at Covington, Kenosha and 234th, Washington and 23rd, and New Orleans at 23rd. There was also water over 23rd and Tucson. Haikey Creek west of Olive experienced flooding problems. One vehicle became stranded on Midway south of Kenosha.
Flash Flood, Okmulgee
- When
- April 26, 9:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
- Where
- Okmulgee County, Countywide
- Property damage
- $70,000
- Reported by
- NEWSPAPER
- Coordinates
- 35.647, -95.964 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Numerous streets and county roads were flooded. There was a culvert washout between Beggs and US Hwy 75 that isolated several familes. There was one other bridge washout and three other county roads that were closed by flooding. 221st Street between Peoria and Lewis was impassable. In Henryetta, two people had to be rescued from a pickup after it stalled in chest-high water on a county road.
Flash Flood, McIntosh
- When
- April 26, 9:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
- Where
- McIntosh County, Countywide
- Reported by
- FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
- Coordinates
- 35.374, -95.667 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A low-water crossing near Hitchita was flooded.
Flash Flood, Pittsburg
- When
- April 26, 9:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
- Where
- Pittsburg County, Countywide
- Reported by
- OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
- Coordinates
- 34.924, -95.748 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A county road was flooded 7 miles north of McAlester when Coal Creek approached bankfull.
Flash Flood, Muskogee
- When
- April 26, 11:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
- Where
- Muskogee County, Countywide
- Reported by
- EMERGENCY MANAGER
- Coordinates
- 35.616, -95.379 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Several county roads were closed by flooding.
Flash Flood, Osage
- When
- April 26, 11:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
- Where
- Osage County, Southeast Portion
- Reported by
- EMERGENCY MANAGER
- Coordinates
- 36.629, -96.398 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Rock School Road west of Sperry was closed.
Flash Flood, Rogers
- When
- April 26, 11:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
- Where
- Rogers County, Countywide
- Property damage
- $30,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.372, -95.604 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Near Claremore, OK Hwy 66 north of the city was closed for an hour by high water. Cat Creek overflowed its banks and flooded South Muskogee Avenue. Many other streets experienced less serious flooding.In Inola, five homes and a business were flooded near the 100 block of East Commercial and NE C Street. Rural areas to the south of town experienced significant flooding.Low-lying rural roads near Catoosa and Chelsea also had flooding problems.
Flash Flood, Wagoner
- When
- April 26, 11:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
- Where
- Wagoner County, Countywide
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 35.961, -95.521 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
OK Hwy 16 south of Wagoner, near Okay, was under water. Midway Road in western Wagoner County was under four feet of water.
Flash Flood, Washington
- When
- April 26, 11:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
- Where
- Washington County, South Portion
- Reported by
- EMERGENCY MANAGER
- Coordinates
- 36.715, -95.904 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Secondary roads south of Bartlesville had standing water. Some roads had to be closed.
Flash Flood, Mayes
- When
- April 26, 11:00 AM CST to 1:00 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)
Numerous county roads were flooded, including Nipak Road southeast of Pryor, old Airport Road, and Scenic US Hwy 412 near Locust Grove. Wolf Creek overflowed its banks, closing Cole-Strang Road. Parts of the approach to the Wolf Creek bridge were washed away.
Flash Flood, Nowata
- When
- April 26, 11:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
- Where
- Nowata County, South Portion
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.799, -95.617 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flooding forced the closing of county roads leading to Talala.
Flash Flood, Cherokee
- When
- April 26, 11:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
- Where
- Cherokee County, Countywide
- Reported by
- NEWSPAPER
- Coordinates
- 35.907, -95.000 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
In Tahlequah, heavy rains forced the closing of several city streets. Several county roads were also closed.
Lightning, Tulsa
- When
- April 26, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Tulsa County, Glenpool
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Reported by
- NEWSPAPER
- Coordinates
- 36.121, -95.941 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Lightning struck a home on South Quince in Glenpool, starting two small fires and rendering useless all appliances that were plugged in.
Flash Flood, Craig
- When
- April 26, 1:00 PM CST to 3:00 PM CST
- Where
- Craig County, Countywide
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.762, -95.208 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Rural roads south of Vinita were closed by high water. US Hwy 69 north of Big Cabin had water covering the road.
Flash Flood, Ottawa
- When
- April 26, 1:00 PM CST to 3:00 PM CST
- Where
- Ottawa County, Countywide
- Property damage
- $150,000
- Reported by
- NEWSPAPER
- Coordinates
- 36.836, -94.810 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Tar Creek in Miami overflowed flooding 30 homes in the east side of the city. Numerous streets in the city of Miami were closed by high water.
- 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.
- Lightning
- A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Tornado in Arkansas, April 26, 19992 injured · F2 · 1 event
- Tornado in Texas, April 26, 1999$190,000 · F1 · 1 event
- Tornado in Arkansas, April 26, 1999$125,000 · F1 · 1 event
- Damaging Wind in Texas, April 26, 1999$250,000 · 100 kt wind · 1 event
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Mississippi, April 26, 1999$65,000 · 1.75 in hail · 13 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Oklahoma, April 26, 1999$62,000 · 52 kt wind · 13 events
- Damaging Wind in Louisiana, April 26, 1999$100,000 · 90 kt wind · 1 event
- Tornado in Texas, April 26, 1999$30,000 · F1 · 1 event
- Damaging Winds in Louisiana, April 26, 1999$67,000 · 7 events
- Damaging Winds in Texas, April 26, 1999$70,000 · 100 kt wind · 2 events
- Hail in Oklahoma, April 26, 19992.75 in hail · 39 events
- Damaging Wind in Texas, April 26, 1999$60,000 · 60 kt wind · 1 event
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: 5689842, 5689843, 5689907, 5689908, 5689909, 5689910, 5689912, 5689913, 5689914, 5689915, 5689990, 5689991, 5689992, 5689993, 5689995, 5689911, 5689994.