Oklahoma, 2001

Flood in Oklahoma, February 24 to 26, 2001

February 24 to 26, 2001 · NWS TSA · 1 event in 1 county or zone

9 feet on the morning of February 25 before falling below its flood stage during the predawn hours on February 26.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

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.

The Spring River near Quapaw OK rose above its flood stage of 20 feet during the morning of February 24.The river crested at 20.9 feet on the morning of February 25 before falling below its flood stage during the predawn hours on February 26.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Tulsa, OK wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 24, 7:45 PM CST, 15 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 24, 7:45 PM CST, 15 minutes before
EASTERN OKLAHOMA/NORTHWEST ARKANSAS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
745 PM CST SAT FEB 24 2001

THE LAST OF THE RADAR ECHOES HAVE EXITED TO THE EAST OF THE AREA
EARLY THIS EVENING AND SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATES THAT SKIES ARE OR
ARE RAPIDLY BECOMING MOSTLY CLEAR IN MOST ZONES.  METARS AND MESONET
DATA INDICATE WEAKENING WINDS ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST HALF
OF THE FORECAST AREA.  HAVE ALREADY UPDATED TO HACK WIND ADVISORY
BACK TO JUST PAWNEE...OSAGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES IN NORTHEAST
OKLAHOMA AND TO REMOVE MENTION OF PRECIPITATION FOR THIS EVENING.
ALSO MADE SKY CONDITION MOSTLY CLEAR IN ALL BUT NORTHWESTERN ZONE
GROUP.

WILL NEED TO UPDATE AGAIN BY MIDNIGHT TO REMOVE/CANCEL THE REMAINING
WIND ADVISORY...AND POSSIBLY MAKE TWEAKS TO TEMPERATURE FORECAST.

.TUL...
OK...WIND ADVISORY THIS EVENING ZONES 54-55-59.
AR...NONE.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Feb 24, 2:06 PM CST, 5 hours 54 minutes before
ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ069-072-076-242100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
206 PM CST SAT FEB 24 2001

...TORNADO WATCHES 30 AND 31 REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF WESTERN
ARKANSAS...

THE TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELED IN THE FOLLOWING OKLAHOMA
COUNTIES...

ADAIR...SEQUOYAH AND LE FLORE.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5PM FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES IN ARKANSAS...

BENTON...CA8RROLL...MADISON...FRANKLIN...
CRAWFORD AND SEBASTIAN.

SEE SHORT TERM FORECASTS ISSUED BY THIS OFFICE FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION.
Special weather statement, Feb 24, 2:58 PM CST, 5 hours 2 minutes before
ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-242200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
258 PM CST SAT FEB 24 2001

THE TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELED IN THE FOLLOWING ARKANSAS
COUNTI8ES...

BENTON...CARROLL...MADISON...FRANKLIN...
CRAWFORD AND SEBASTIAN.

THE LINE OF SEVERE STORMS HAS MOVED EAST OF THESE COUNTIES AND
REDEVELOPMENT IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS IS NOT EXPECTED.
Local storm report, Feb 24, 3:32 PM CST, 4 hours 28 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
332 PM CST SAT FEB 24 2001

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1232 PM    4 SE CLAYTON              OK    1 INCH HAIL
02/24/01   PUSHMATAHA                      PUBLIC REPORTED QUARTER
                                           HAIL.

0127 PM    SLAYTONVILLE              AR    60 MPH TSTM GUST
02/24/01   SEBASTIAN                       SPOTTERS REPORTED 60
                                           MPH WIND GUSTS.

0130 PM    FARMINGTON                AR    .88 INCH HAIL
02/24/01   WASHINGTON                      SHERIFFS OFFICE REPORT.

0130 PM    WEST FORK                 AR    .88 INCH HAIL
02/24/01   WASHINGTON                      REPORTED BY SHERIFFS
                                           OFFICE.

0130 PM    2 E GENTRY                AR    WIND DAMAGE
02/24/01   BENTON                          PUBLIC REPORTED TREE
                                           DAMAGE.

0145 PM    2 SE SULPHUR CITY         AR    WIND DAMAGE
02/24/01   WASHINGTON                      SHERIFFS OFFICE
                                           REPORTED TREES DOWN.

0145 PM    2 E SPRING VLY            AR    WIND DAMAGE
02/24/01   WASHINGTON                      SHERIFFS OFFICE
                                           REPORTED POWER LINES
                                           DOWN.

0145 PM    BENTONVILLE               AR    WIND DAMAGE
02/24/01   BENTON                          EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
                                           REPORTED TREES DOWN.

0145 PM    5 E ROGERS                AR    WIND DAMAGE
02/24/01   BENTON                          LAW ENFORCEMENT
                                           REPORTED POWER OUTAGES
                                           IN WAR EAGLE AND POWER
                                           LINES AND TREES DOWN.

0155 PM    EUREKA SPGS               AR    WIND DAMAGE
02/24/01   CARROLL                         LAW ENFORCEMENT
                                           REPORTED TREES DOWN.

0200 PM    CLIFTY                    AR    WIND DAMAGE
02/24/01   MADISON                         LAW ENFORCEMENT
                                           REPORTED TREES DOWN.

0203 PM    8 WNW OZARK               AR    .75 INCH HAIL
02/24/01   FRANKLIN                        HAM REPORT OF DIME HAIL.

0207 PM    8 WNW OZARK               AR    1 INCH HAIL
02/24/01   FRANKLIN                        HAM REPORT OF QUARTER
                                           HAIL.

0250 PM    5 N GENTRY                AR    FLOOD
02/24/01   BENTON                          SHERIFFS OFFICE
                                           REPORTED ROAD CLOSED
                                           NEAR HIGHWAY 43 AND 102
                                           NORTH OF GENTRY DUE TO
                                           FLOODING.

0250 PM    HEALING SPGS              AR    FLOOD
02/24/01   BENTON                          SHERIFFS OFFICE
                                           REPORTED ROAD CLOSED
                                           NEAR HIGHWAY 264 AT
                                           HEALING SPRINGS DUE TO
                                           FLOOD. NUMEROUS OTHER
                                           ROADS AND BRIDGES WERE
                                           CLOSED WITHIN THE
                                           COUNTY DUE TO FLOODING.
Special weather statement, Feb 24, 4:20 PM CST, 3 hours 40 minutes before
ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-251200-

EASTERN OKLAHOMA/NORTHWEST ARKANSAS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
420 PM CST SAT FEB 24 2001

..RIVER FLOODING TO CONTINUE OVER AREAS OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS THROUGH TONIGHT...

WIDESPREAD RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES OVER THE PAST 24 TO 36
HOURS HAS RESULTED IN FLOODING ACROSS MANY AREA RIVERS AND CREEKS.
PLEASE SEE THE LATEST RIVER FLOOD WARNINGS /OKCFLWTUL/ AND RIVER
FLOOD STATEMENTS /OKCFLSTUL/ FOR SPECIFIC DETAILS.

.OTHER HAZARDS...
SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO AROUND 25 TO 35 MPH THIS
EVENING...WITH GUSTS OVER 45 MPH POSSIBLE.  AS A RESULT...THE WIND
ADVISORY HAS BEEN EXTENDED INTO THIS EVENING.  WINDS WILL SUBSIDE BY
MIDNIGHT. SEE /OKCNPWTUL/ FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

RELATED GRAPHICAL INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT...
 WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TULSA
Local storm report, Feb 24, 4:51 PM CST, 3 hours 9 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
451 PM CST SAT FEB 24 2001

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1119 AM    MUSKOGEE                  OK    WIND DAMAGE
02/24/01   MUSKOGEE                        UTILITY LINES DOWN.
                                           REPORTED BY LAW
                                           ENFORCEMENT

1120 AM    OKAY                      OK    .75 INCH HAIL
02/24/01   WAGONER                         LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORT

1120 AM    OKAY                      OK    WIND DAMAGE
02/24/01   WAGONER                         UTILITY LINES DOWN.
                                           REPORTED BY LAW
                                           ENFORCEMENT.

1120 AM    OKAY                      OK    WIND DAMAGE
02/24/01   WAGONER                         UTILITY LINES DOWN.
                                           REPORTED BY LAW
                                           ENFORCEMENT

1127 AM    STIDHAM                   OK    .75 INCH HAIL
02/24/01   MCINTOSH                        [EUFAULA EOC]

1135 AM    MUSKOGEE                  OK    WIND DAMAGE
02/24/01   MUSKOGEE                        POWER LINES DOWN ON THE
                                           WEST SIDE OF MUSKOGEE
                                           [CITY OF MUSKOGEE EOC]

1140 AM    MUSKOGEE                  OK    .75 INCH HAIL
02/24/01   MUSKOGEE                        [CITY OF MUSKOGEE EOC]

1140 AM    1 W CHECOTAH              OK    WIND DAMAGE
02/24/01   MCINTOSH                        POWER LINES AND TREES
                                           DOWN 1 MILE WEST OF
                                           INTERSECTION OF
                                           INTERSTATE 40 AND
                                           HIGHWAY 69 [AMATEUR
                                           RADIO]

1230 PM    3 W VIAN                  OK    WIND DAMAGE
02/24/01   SEQUOYAH                        UTILITY LINES
                                           DOWN...SIGNS
                                           DOWN...DEBRIS ON I-40.
                                           REPORTED BY LAW
                                           ENFORCEMENT.

1232 PM    4 SE CLAYTON              OK    1 INCH HAIL
02/24/01   PUSHMATAHA                      PUBLIC REPORTED QUARTER
                                           HAIL.

0127 PM    SLAYTONVILLE              AR    60 MPH TSTM GUST
02/24/01   SEBASTIAN                       SPOTTERS REPORTED 60
                                           MPH WIND GUSTS.

0130 PM    2 E GENTRY                AR    WIND DAMAGE
02/24/01   BENTON                          PUBLIC REPORTED TREE
                                           DAMAGE.

0130 PM    FARMINGTON                AR    .88 INCH HAIL
02/24/01   WASHINGTON                      SHERIFFS OFFICE REPORT.

0130 PM    WEST FORK                 AR    .88 INCH HAIL
02/24/01   WASHINGTON                      REPORTED BY SHERIFFS
                                           OFFICE.

0145 PM    2 E SPRING VLY            AR    WIND DAMAGE
02/24/01   WASHINGTON                      SHERIFFS OFFICE
                                           REPORTED POWER LINES
                                           DOWN.

0145 PM    BENTONVILLE               AR    WIND DAMAGE
02/24/01   BENTON                          EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
                                           REPORTED TREES DOWN.

0145 PM    5 E ROGERS                AR    WIND DAMAGE
02/24/01   BENTON                          LAW ENFORCEMENT
                                           REPORTED POWER OUTAGES
                                           IN WAR EAGLE AND POWER
                                           LINES AND TREES DOWN.

0145 PM    2 SE SULPHUR CITY         AR    WIND DAMAGE
02/24/01   WASHINGTON                      SHERIFFS OFFICE
                                           REPORTED TREES DOWN.

0155 PM    EUREKA SPGS               AR    WIND DAMAGE
02/24/01   CARROLL                         LAW ENFORCEMENT
                                           REPORTED TREES DOWN.

0200 PM    CLIFTY                    AR    WIND DAMAGE
02/24/01   MADISON                         LAW ENFORCEMENT
                                           REPORTED TREES DOWN.

0203 PM    8 WNW OZARK               AR    .75 INCH HAIL
02/24/01   FRANKLIN                        HAM REPORT OF DIME HAIL.

0207 PM    8 WNW OZARK               AR    1 INCH HAIL
02/24/01   FRANKLIN                        HAM REPORT OF QUARTER
                                           HAIL.

0250 PM    HEALING SPGS              AR    FLOOD
02/24/01   BENTON                          SHERIFFS OFFICE
                                           REPORTED ROAD CLOSED
                                           NEAR HIGHWAY 264 AT
                                           HEALING SPRINGS DUE TO
                                           FLOOD. NUMEROUS OTHER
                                           ROADS AND BRIDGES WERE
                                           CLOSED WITHIN THE
                                           COUNTY DUE TO FLOODING.

0250 PM    5 N GENTRY                AR    FLOOD
02/24/01   BENTON                          SHERIFFS OFFICE
                                           REPORTED ROAD CLOSED
                                           NEAR HIGHWAY 43 AND 102
                                           NORTH OF GENTRJY DUE TO
                                           FLOODING.
Local storm report, Feb 24, 6:36 PM CST, 1 hour 24 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
636 PM CST SAT FEB 24 2001

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1027 AM    BARTLESVILLE              OK    60 MPH TSTM GUST
02/24/01   WASHINGTON                      HAM RADIO REPORT

1035 AM    MANNFORD                  OK    .88 INCH HAIL
02/24/01   CREEK                           HAM RADIO REPORT

1046 AM    SAPULPA                   OK    .88 INCH HAIL
02/24/01   CREEK                           HAM RADIO REPORT ALONG
                                           I-44 NEAR SAPULPA.

1059 AM    BIXBY                     OK    .75 INCH HAIL
02/24/01   TULSA                           HAM RADIO REPORT NEAR
                                           BIXBY.

1112 AM    OWASSO                    OK    .75 INCH HAIL
02/24/01   TULSA                           HAM RADIO REPORT

M

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Ottawa

When
February 24, 8:00 PM CST to February 26, 6:00 AM CST
Where
Ottawa forecast zone
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
36.836, -94.810 (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 2001Every state in 2001This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, February 2001

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: 5235065.