Flash Flooding and Hail in Oklahoma, June 24, 1999

Thunderstorms formed over portions of northern Oklahoma during the morning of the 24th and moved southward during the day, eventually dissipating across southern Oklahoma during the evening of the 24th. During the late morning and early afternoon, flooding was reported across many sections of Grant County. The first report of flooding was received at 1008 CST, and occurred in the city of Medford, where street flooding, including Highway 11, was observed, resulting in numerous road closures. Flooding expanded into other parts of Grant County by early afternoon. At 1300 CST, water covered parts of Highway 60, 6 miles east of Lamont and also just west of Pond Creek, and Highway 81 extending north out of Medford to the Kansas state line was closed. Across Payne County, in Stillwater, a police officer reported water flowing over the hood of his vehicle at the intersection of 3rd. and Main, and Bethel Road was impassable near the intersection of Dunkin Road due to high water. In Cushing, also in Payne County, a park was completely submerged at the corner of Cherry Street and Michigan Avenue, while in Yale, Mud Creek overflowed its banks between West Broadway and Main, flooding Old City Park and North C Street. In addition, a car was stalled at the intersection of Main and Broadway. In Kay County, street flooding was reported in Tonkawa and on Highway 77 at 1008 CST, and in Newkirk at 1130 CST at the intersection of Countyshed Road and Peckham Road, which was covered by about 1 foot of water. Thunderstorms also produced some wind damage across north central Oklahoma. A barn was blown over 7 miles south of Medford in Grant County. In Stillwater in Payne County, minor roof damage was reported at Apple Creek and Cimarron townhomes, and fallen tree limbs caused window damage to five vehicles in the parking lot of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission Office, while in Enid in Garfield County, lightning struck a large tree, which then fell onto a house porch.As the thunderstorms moved south into Lincoln County, lightning ignited a fire at a small business in Chandler, causing minor damage; a tree was blown over in Chandler, destroying a porch at a home in the 500 block of Bennett Avenue, while another tree, which was blown over, damaged an automobile. Skirting was also torn off of a mobile home, and a three-sided building was blown over at Read Ranch. Also in Chandler, numerous roads were flooded, including Highway 66 just west of Chandler, and some bridges were damaged. Lightning caused damage in Stroud, when it struck the Lincoln County News Building, resulting in the destruction of a computer and a copying machine, and several trees and power lines were downed in Prague, while in Hughes County, power lines were downed in Holdenville, and lightning struck the roof of a building at the corner of Main and Broadway in Holdenville, creating a large hole. Other structural damage occurred to the side of the building, and power lines were downed on 8th Street and Hinckley Street. In Pontotoc County, lightning struck a law enforecment communications tower in Ada, damaging the radio system, while in Davis in Murray County, heavy rain caused numerous streets to flood. As the thunderstorms moved into Stephens County, lightning struck a residence on South 13th St. in Duncan, causing extensive damage to the house. In Comanche County, 3 main power feeder lines were blown down in Lawton, causing loss of power to approximately 2500 homes. The roof of a carport was also damaged in Lawton, and street flooding was reported. In Jackson County, 2 barns had there tin roofs blown off in Altus; power lines were downed along Highway 62, 6 miles west of Altus; lighting struck a vacant house 6 miles west-northwest of Altus, causing a small fire, and another house in Altus, destroying a washing machine. Flooding was reported along Highway 6, 4 miles north of Altus, in Granite in Greer County at the intersection of Highway 6 and Lake Creek Road, and in Woodward in Woodward County, where street flooding was reported.