Flood in Oklahoma, April 25 to 26, 2011

Name: Flood in Oklahoma, April 25 to 26, 2011
Start: 2011-04-25T16:45
End: 2011-04-26T04:45
Location: Oklahoma

April 25 to 26, 2011 · NWS TSA · 1 event in 1 county or zone

An active weather pattern across the Southern Plains resulted in several episodes of locally heavy rainfall over much of northeastern Oklahoma. This heavy rainfall resulted in record flooding along the Baron Fork River near Eldon.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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: $50,000
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.

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 Apr 25, 2:44 PM CST, 2 hours 1 minute earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 25, 2:44 PM CST, 2 hours 1 minute before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
344 PM CDT MON APR 25 2011

.DISCUSSION...
THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST HALF OF THE REGION
THIS AFTERNOON. HEAVY RAINFALL AND TRAINING OF CELLS IS ADDING TO
ONGOING MAJOR FLOODING PROBLEMS. AS A SURFACE LOW DEEPENS ACROSS
EASTERN OKLAHOMA... A WARM FRONT IS CURRENTLY SURGING NORTHWARD
INTO SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA FROM THE RED RIVER... WHILE A COLD
FRONT/DRYLINE IN NORTH TEXAS ENCROACHES ON THE WARM MOIST AIR FROM
THE WEST. THE RESULTANT SEVERE WEATHER EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON
WILL CONTINUE INTO THIS EVENING. THE PERSISTENT WEATHER SYSTEM
RESPONSIBLE FOR MASSIVE RAINFALL TOTALS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS SHOULD
FINALLY GET PUSHED SOUTHEASTWARD OUT OF THE REGION BY TOMORROW MORNING.

HOWEVER... ONE MORE DYNAMIC UPPER TROUGH WILL SWING ACROSS THE
SOUTHERN PLAINS LATE TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY. THIS WILL FORCE THE
RECENTLY VACATED WARM MOIST AIR TO QUICKLY RETURN TO THE AREA...
CREATING ANOTHER EPISODE OF THUNDERSTORMS... INCLUDING THE THREAT
FOR SEVERE WEATHER. AS THIS LATEST TROUGH EXITS THE REGION... ALL
PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO END FROM WEST TO EAST BY EARLY
WEDNESDAY MORNING.

DRY WEATHER WITH A WARMING TREND IS THEN EXPECTED FOR THE REMAINDER
OF THE WEEK BEFORE ANOTHER UPPER SYSTEM APPROACHES THE SOUTHERN
PLAINS OVER THE UPCOMING WEEKEND. THIS SYSTEM APPEARS VERY DYNAMIC
IN THE MODELS AND WILL LIKELY POSE OUR NEXT WIDESPREAD THREAT FOR
SEVERE WEATHER. THE UPPER SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH QUICKLY...
WITH DRY CONDITIONS RETURNING TO THE FORECAST AREA SUNDAY AND
MONDAY.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
TUL   49  70  50  65 /  40  10  70  50
FSM   56  74  57  64 /  60  40  70  60
MLC   54  72  53  65 /  50  10  60  30
BVO   47  69  47  64 /  50  10  80  50
FYV   51  69  48  59 /  60  30  80  70
BYV   53  68  51  58 /  70  30  80  80
MKO   51  69  53  64 /  50  20  70  50
MIO   49  67  48  61 /  50  20  70  60
F10   50  69  53  63 /  40  10  60  40
HHW   62  73  56  73 /  50  20  50  30

&&

.TSA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 PM MONDAY FOR OKZ055-OKZ056-OKZ057-
     OKZ058-OKZ060-OKZ061-OKZ062-OKZ063-OKZ064-OKZ065-OKZ066-
     OKZ067-OKZ068-OKZ069-OKZ070-OKZ071-OKZ072-OKZ073-OKZ074-
     OKZ075-OKZ076.

AR...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 PM MONDAY FOR ARZ001-ARZ002-ARZ010-
     ARZ011-ARZ019-ARZ020-ARZ029.

&&

SHORT TERM...22
LONG TERM....06

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 25, 3:57 PM CST, 48 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
457 PM CDT MON APR 25 2011

ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-261000-
ADAIR OK-BENTON AR-CARROLL AR-CHEROKEE OK-CHOCTAW OK-CRAIG OK-
CRAWFORD AR-CREEK OK-DELAWARE OK-FRANKLIN AR-HASKELL OK-LATIMER OK-
LE FLORE OK-MADISON AR-MAYES OK-MCINTOSH OK-MUSKOGEE OK-NOWATA OK-
OKFUSKEE OK-OKMULGEE OK-OSAGE OK-OTTAWA OK-PAWNEE OK-PITTSBURG OK-
PUSHMATAHA OK-ROGERS OK-SEBASTIAN AR-SEQUOYAH OK-TULSA OK-WAGONER OK-
WASHINGTON OK-WASHINGTON AR-
457 PM CDT MON APR 25 2011

...CATASTROPHIC FLOODING ONGOING ACROSS PORTIONS OF FAR EASTERN
OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THREAT
REMAINS THIS EVENING...

THIS OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL ARKANSAS AS WELL AS
MUCH OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

TORNADO.
	RISK...ELEVATED.
	AREA...FAR SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.
        ONSET...ONGOING.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM.
	RISK...SIGNIFICANT.
	AREA...EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.
	ONSET...ONGOING.

FLASH FLOOD.
	RISK...CRITICAL.
	AREA...EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.
	ONSET...ONGOING.

HEAVY RAIN.
	RISK...ELEVATED.
	AREA...EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.
	ONSET...ONGOING.

DISCUSSION...
A LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...ALSO PRODUCING VERY
HEAVY RAIN OVER ALREADY SIGNIFICANTLY FLOODED AREAS...STRETCHES
FROM NEAR BERRYVILLE TO FORT SMITH TO HUGO LATE THIS AFTERNOON.
THIS LINE WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH EASTWARD OUT OF THE AREA BY MID
EVENING.

ADDITIONAL SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE DEVELOPING ACROSS SOUTHWEST
OKLAHOMA AND THE EASTERN TEXAS PANHANDLE. AS THE DISTURBANCE THAT
CAUSED THESE TO INITIATE MOVES FURTHER EAST...ADDITIONAL
THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY DEVELOP ACROSS EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. THESE STORMS WILL HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO
PRODUCE MORE HEAVY RAIN...LARGE HAIL...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES.

STORM TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS ACROSS PORTIONS OF FAR EASTERN
OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS ARE NEARING A FOOT...RESULTING IN
CATASTROPHIC FLOODING IN THE AREA. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL WILL WORSEN
THE ALREADY CRITICAL OVERLAND AND RIVER FLOODING SITUATION. A RECORD
RIVER CREST IS EXPECTED ALONG THE KINGS RIVER NEAR BERRYVILLE...
WITH FLOODING EXPECTED OR OCCURRING AT SEVERAL OTHER RIVER
FORECAST POINTS IN THE AREA.

SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT...
ACTIVATION OF THE REGIONAL SPOTTER NETWORK EXPECTED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.
TUESDAY...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL...HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL.
WEDNESDAY...THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL...HIGH WIND POTENTIAL.
THURSDAY...NO HAZARDS.
FRIDAY...HIGH WIND POTENTIAL.
SATURDAY...THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL...HIGH WIND POTENTIAL.
SUNDAY...THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL.

EXTENDED DISCUSSION...
A COLD FRONT WHICH WILL SWEEP ACROSS THE REGION THIS EVENING WILL
EVENTUALLY STALL AND RETURN BACK INTO SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA AND WEST
CENTRAL ARKANSAS. THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ALONG AND
NORTH OF THIS BOUNDARY ACROSS FAR EASTERN OKLAHOMA...WEST CENTRAL
AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
VERY LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES.

ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO MOVE ACROSS THE PLAINS TUESDAY
NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY...BRINGING ANOTHER ROUND OF
THUNDERSTORMS...SOME OF WHICH COULD BE SEVERE. ANY ADDITIONAL RAIN
THAT FALLS OVER PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST
ARKANSAS WILL ONLY EXACERBATE THE ONGOING FLOODING SITUATION. THE
STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND...DEPENDING ON
THE TRACK OF THE SURFACE LOW AND WARM FRONT...TORNADOES OVER
SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA AND WEST CENTRAL ARKANSAS.

ANOTHER COLD FRONT WILL BRING A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE
WEEKEND.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANNING STATEMENT...
EMERGENCY RESPONDERS MUST PREPARE FOR IMPACTS STEMMING FROM THE
MAJOR TO CATASTROPHIC FLOODING...AS WELL AS FROM ROUND AFTER ROUND
OF SEVERE WEATHER.

WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TULSA CONTAINS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 25, 2:30 PM CST, 2 hours 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
330 PM CDT MON APR 25 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0316 PM     FLASH FLOOD      3 SE FAYETTEVILLE       36.03N 94.12W
04/25/2011                   WASHINGTON         AR   BROADCAST MEDIA

            SEVERAL ROADS SOUTHEAST SIDE OF FAYETTEVILLE FLOODED.
            WATER ENTERING INTO HOMES IN THE STONEBRIDGE MEADOWS
            SUBDIVISION ON RIVER MEADOWS DRIVE SOUTH OF GOFF FARM
            ROAD. ANOTHER AREA WITH WATER ENTERING HOMES WAS AT THE
            INTERSECTION OF GOFF FARM ROAD AND CHERRY HILLS DRIVE.

&&

JDS

Special weather statement, Apr 25, 2:48 PM CST, 1 hour 57 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
348 PM CDT MON APR 25 2011

OKZ049-053-252130-
CHOCTAW OK-PUSHMATAHA OK-
348 PM CDT MON APR 25 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY EFFECTIVE UNTIL 430 PM CDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...

IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA
     CHOCTAW AND PUSHMATAHA

AT 348 PM CDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES WEST OF EUBANKS TO 9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
BOSWELL...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED
BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE...HUGO...ORD...GRANT...GAY...GOODLAND...
BOSWELL...UNGER...SOPER...MESSER...KENT...FALLON...SPEER...APPLE...
ANTLERS...DELA...RATTAN...CLOUDY...MOYERS...FINLEY...KOSOMA...SNOW...
NASHOBA...OLETA...DARWIN...KELLOND...EUBANKS AND DUNBAR.

THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WIND
GUSTS TO 50 MPH. RESIDENTS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT IN CASE
THE SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY IS UPGRADED TO A WARNING.

LAT...LON 3394 9594 3413 9596 3417 9593 3417 9579
      3438 9579 3441 9577 3462 9501 3388 9549
      3389 9552 3388 9554 3394 9558 3389 9569
      3390 9575 3387 9577 3387 9582
TIME...MOT...LOC 2048Z 257DEG 41KT 3442 9566 3396 9597

Special weather statement, Apr 25, 3:12 PM CST, 1 hour 33 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
412 PM CDT MON APR 25 2011

ARZ019-020-029-OKZ072-076-252145-
CRAWFORD AR-FRANKLIN AR-LE FLORE OK-SEBASTIAN AR-SEQUOYAH OK-
412 PM CDT MON APR 25 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY EFFECTIVE UNTIL 445 PM CDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...

IN WEST CENTRAL ARKANSAS
     NORTHERN SEBASTIAN AND WESTERN FRANKLIN

IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
     SOUTHERN CRAWFORD

IN EAST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
     SOUTHEASTERN SEQUOYAH

IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA
     NORTHEASTERN LE FLORE

AT 412 PM CDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF ROLAND TO 2 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
COTTONWOOD TO 3 MILES SOUTH OF SPIRO...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH. SOME
LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
COTTONWOOD...MULDROW...ROLAND...SHORT...MOFFETT...SHADY POINT...
PANAMA...ROCK ISLAND...SPIRO...POCOLA...SCULLYVILLE...BRADEN...
ARKOMA...PLEASANT HILL...MILL CREEK...PINEY...UNIONTOWN...CONCORD...
MULBERRY...CHARLESTON...URSULA...VESTA...CECIL...TONEY...FERN...FORT
SMITH...HACKETT...GREENWOOD...BARLING...LAVACA...BURNVILLE...
JENSON...EXCELSIOR...BONANZA...FORT CHAFFEE...JENNY LIND...RYE
HILL...BLOOMER...CENTRAL CITY...VAN BUREN...ALMA...CEDARVILLE...
KIBLER...SHIBLEY...FURRY...DYER...FIGURE FIVE...RUDY AND DORA.

THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL AND WIND
GUSTS TO 50 MPH. RESIDENTS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT IN
CASE THE SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY IS UPGRADED TO A WARNING.

LAT...LON 3519 9403 3512 9471 3533 9466 3555 9466
      3566 9398 3544 9392
TIME...MOT...LOC 2112Z 259DEG 43KT 3548 9452 3535 9448
          3520 9457

Special weather statement, Apr 25, 3:27 PM CST, 1 hour 18 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
427 PM CDT MON APR 25 2011

OKZ049-075-076-252200-
LATIMER OK-LE FLORE OK-PUSHMATAHA OK-
427 PM CDT MON APR 25 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY EFFECTIVE UNTIL 500 PM CDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...

IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA
     CENTRAL LE FLORE...NORTHEASTERN PUSHMATAHA AND EASTERN LATIMER

AT 428 PM CDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM 4 MILES NORTHEAST OF RED OAK TO 3 MILES SOUTH OF
TALIHINA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE
AFFECTED BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE...BENGAL...RED OAK...MUSE...
WHITESBORO...TALIHINA...HODGEN...SUMMERFIELD...HEAVENER...FANSHAWE...
HOWE AND WISTER.

THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH.
RESIDENTS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT IN CASE THE SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY IS UPGRADED TO A WARNING.

LAT...LON 3507 9445 3467 9446 3466 9508 3500 9508
TIME...MOT...LOC 2128Z 243DEG 45KT 3503 9499 3474 9500

Local storm report, Apr 25, 3:54 PM CST, 51 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
454 PM CDT MON APR 25 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0445 PM     HEAVY RAIN       3 W ELKINS              36.00N 94.06W
04/25/2011  E7.00 INCH       WASHINGTON         AR   STORM CHASER

            AN ADDITIONAL 7 INCHES HAS BEEN MEASURED BETWEEN 8 PM
            SUNDAY EVENING TO 445 PM MONDAY AFTERNOON.

&&

JDS

Special weather statement, Apr 25, 3:56 PM CST, 49 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
456 PM CDT MON APR 25 2011

ARZ029-OKZ076-252230-
LE FLORE OK-SEBASTIAN AR-
456 PM CDT MON APR 25 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY EFFECTIVE UNTIL 530 PM CDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...

IN WEST CENTRAL ARKANSAS
     SOUTHERN SEBASTIAN

IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA
     SOUTHEASTERN LE FLORE

AT 457 PM CDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM 4 MILES SOUTHEAST OF POTEAU TO 8 MILES WEST OF
OCTAVIA...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED
BY THESE STORMS INCLUDE...POTEAU...OCTAVIA...BIG CEDAR...MUSE...
HODGEN...HEAVENER...HOWE...LIBERTY...CROSSROADS...PATTERSON...
HARTFORD...ARKOLA...HUNTINGTON...MIDLAND...DAYTON AND MANSFIELD.

THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH.
RESIDENTS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT IN CASE THE SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY IS UPGRADED TO A WARNING.

LAT...LON 3514 9403 3514 9413 3510 9415 3507 9423
      3496 9423 3495 9437 3492 9444 3451 9445
      3451 9494 3508 9463 3516 9402
TIME...MOT...LOC 2157Z 261DEG 38KT 3502 9456 3454 9482

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, Cherokee

When: April 25, 4:45 PM CST to April 26, 4:45 AM CST
Where: Cherokee County, 1 mi NW of Eldon to 1 mi SW of Eldon
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 35.940, -94.843

The Baron Fork River near Eldon rose above its flood stage of 18 feet at 5:45 pm CDT on April 25th. The river crested at 28.51 feet at 10:30 pm CDT on the 25th, resulting in record flooding. Cabins at Camp Egan were flooded and significant areas of the campground were also under water. The river fell below flood stage at 5:45 am CDT on the 26th.

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

Every storm in Oklahoma in 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history Warnings in Oklahoma, April 2011

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: 300225.