Widespread heavy rainfall fell across much of eastern Oklahoma from the 19th through the 21st as a result of a slow-moving upper level low pressure system that moved from West Texas to northeastern Texas during that period. Three to five inch rainfalls were common over the region with some areas receiving between six and nine inches.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS TSA wrote it up.
Widespread heavy rainfall fell across much of eastern Oklahoma from the 19th through the 21st as a result of a slow-moving upper level low pressure system that moved from West Texas to northeastern Texas during that period. Three to five inch rainfalls were common over the region with some areas receiving between six and nine inches. This heavy rainfall resulted in moderate flooding of the Kiamichi River near Antlers.
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 Mar 20, 5:11 AM CST, 4 hours 19 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
611 AM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012
.DISCUSSION...
MVFR CIGS AND VSBYS TO DOMINATE THE BULK OF THE TAF PERIOD IN
RAIN AND THUNDER. SOME IMPROVEMENT RESULTING IN VFR CONDITIONS MAY
OCCUR TOWARDS 06Z ACROSS THE OKLAHOMA TAF SITES.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 359 AM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012/
DISCUSSION...
SIGNIFICANT FLOOD EVENT ONGOING THIS MORNING AS AREAS OF RAIN
WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO SPREAD INTO EASTERN
OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. UPPER LOW CURRENTLY OVER FAR WEST
TEXAS WILL CONTINUE TO SLOWLY MOVE EAST...BECOMING MORE CUTOFF
WITH TIME. IN RESPONSE...SURFACE LOW PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO
DEVELOP OVER SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA THIS MORNING. AS SURFACE LOW
BEGINS TO LIFT NORTH...FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL SHARPEN AND PROVIDE
THE FOCUS FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS
EASTERN OKLAHOMA/NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. ANY STORMS ALONG/EAST OF THE
BOUNDARY THIS AFTERNOON HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE SEVERE WITH
DAMAGING WINDS. COULD ALSO SEE A LIMITED TORNADO THREAT ALONG/EAST
OF MESO LOW TRACK...DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH SURFACE INSTABILITY
DEVELOPS. AN ADDITIONAL 3 TO 4 INCHES OF PRECIPITATION WILL BE
POSSIBLE THROUGH TONIGHT...CREATING POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS FLOODING
CONDITIONS. BOUNDARY SHOULD BEGIN TO SHIFT EAST TONIGHT WITH THE
HEAVIER RAINFALL ENDING.
MUCH OF THE AREA WILL LIKELY BECOME DRY SLOTTED ON WEDNESDAY AS
UPPER LOW PIVOTS DIRECTLY OVER OKLAHOMA. BETTER THUNDERSTORM
CHANCES WILL LIKELY OCCUR ON THURSDAY AS LOW LEVEL MOISTURE
INCREASES MODESTLY. STEEP LAPSE RATES IN ASSOCIATION WITH COLD
CORE LOW COULD PROVIDE ENOUGH INSTABILITY FOR A FEW HAIL PRODUCING
STORMS.
REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST STAYED CLOSE TO THE GFS...WHICH IS IN
GOOD AGREEMENT WITH THE ECMWF SOLUTION. UPPER LOW WILL LIFT
NORTHEAST TOWARDS THE GREAT LAKES REGION WITH A WARMING TREND INTO
THE WEEKEND.
&&
.TSA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 AM WEDNESDAY FOR OKZ049-OKZ053-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 AM WEDNESDAY FOR ARZ001-ARZ002-ARZ010-
ARZ011-ARZ019-ARZ020-ARZ029.
&&
SHORT TERM...99
LONG TERM....99HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK 508 AM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012 ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-211000- 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- 508 AM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012 ...DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING FLOODING EXPECTED INTO WEDNESDAY... THIS OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL ARKANSAS AS WELL AS MUCH OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM. RISK...LIMITED. AREA...FAR EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. ONSET...TODAY. FLASH FLOOD. RISK...CRITICAL. AREA...EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. ONSET...ONGOING. HEAVY RAIN. RISK...CRITICAL. AREA...EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. ONSET...ONGOING. DISCUSSION... WIDESPREAD SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUES TODAY AND TONIGHT AHEAD OF A VERY LARGE...SLOW MOVING UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM. MUCH OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS HAVE ALREADY SEEN 2 TO 4 INCH AMOUNTS OVER THE LAST 12 HOURS OR SO. AS THE UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM SLOWLY DIVES SOUTHEAST INTO TEXAS TODAY...THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL AXIS IS EXPECTED TO GRADUALLY SHIFT EAST...WITH THE MOST THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TOTALS TODAY AND TONIGHT EXPECTED ACROSS FAR EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. ADDITIONAL 3 TO 5 INCHES ARE EXPCTED IN THESE AREAS...WITH LOCALIZED AMOUNTS OF 10 TO 12 INCHES POSSIBLE. DEPSITE LESS RAIN AMOUNTS EXPECTED ACROSS A LARGE PORTION OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA TODAY AND TONIGHT...RIVER FLOODING AND RUNOFF WILL BE ONGOING IN THESE AREAS AND WILL STILL CREATE FLOODING PROBLEMS. SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT... LOCAL SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT...FIRST RESPONDERS...AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES SHOULD PREPARE FOR DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING FLOODING TODAY AND TONIGHT. SWIFT WATER RESCUES MAY BE NECESSARY AS ROADS BECOME IMPASSABLE DUE TO THE HIGH WATER. IN ADDITION...NUMEROUS MAIN-STEM RIVERS ACROSS EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS COULD EXPERIENCE MODERATE TO MAJOR FLOODING BY MID WEEK. PERSONS SHOULD CONSIDER CANCELLING ANY OUTDOOR CAMPING ACTIVITIES THROUGH AT LEAST WEDNESDAY DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE RAINFALL...ESPECIALLY IN ANY FLOOD PRONE AREAS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. WEDNESDAY...THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL...HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL. THURSDAY...THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL. FRIDAY...THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL. SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY...NO HAZARDS. EXTENDED DISCUSSION... THE SLOW MOVING UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM WILL FINALLY BEGIN TO LIFT NORTHEAST...HOWEVER AREAL AND RIVER FLOODING FLOODING WILL LIKELY BE ONGOING AS THE RAIN AMOUNTS BEGIN TO TAPER OFF...ESPECIALLY ACROSS FAR EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. AS THE CENTER OF THE LOW DRIFTS SLOWLY NORTHEAST THROUGH FRIDAY...VERY COLD TEMPERATURES ALOFT ASSOCIATED WITH THE CENTER OF THE LOW WILL RESULT IN ADDITIONAL RAIN AND THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WEDNESDAY THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY. WHILE LOWER RAINFALL AMOUNTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COLD CORE ACTIVITY ARE ANTICIPATED...MAINSTEM RIVER FLOODING WILL LIKELY PERSIST FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. UPPER LEVEL RIDGING WILL BEGING TO TAKE HOLD OVER THE SOUTHERN PLAINS THIS WEEKEND WHERE MILD...AND MORE IMPORTANTLY DRY WEATHER WILL PREVAIL. WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TULSA CONTAINS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
654 AM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0645 AM FLASH FLOOD HAILEYVILLE 34.85N 95.58W
03/20/2012 PITTSBURG OK COUNTY OFFICIAL
HIGHWAY 63 GOING WEST OUT OF HAILEYVILLE CLOSED DUE TO
HIGH WATER
0645 AM FLASH FLOOD MCALESTER 34.93N 95.77W
03/20/2012 PITTSBURG OK COUNTY OFFICIAL
HIGHWAY 31 GOING WEST OUT OF MCALESTER STILL CLOSED DUE
TO HIGH WATER.
&&
SAAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
839 AM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0730 PM HAIL WHITEFIELD 35.25N 95.24W
03/19/2012 E1.75 INCH HASKELL OK EMERGENCY MNGR
0930 PM TSTM WND DMG PANAMA 35.17N 94.67W
03/19/2012 LE FLORE OK EMERGENCY MNGR
LARGE TREE DOWN AND BLOCKING ROAD OFF HWY 59 ON NORTH
SIDE OF PANAMA.
0950 PM TSTM WND DMG MULDROW 35.41N 94.60W
03/19/2012 SEQUOYAH OK LAW ENFORCEMENT
BARN BLOWN INTO HOUSE.
0950 PM TSTM WND DMG UNIONTOWN 35.58N 94.44W
03/19/2012 CRAWFORD AR EMERGENCY MNGR
TREES BROKEN 2 FT OFF GROUND AND FENCE IN CONCRETE SUCKED
OUT OF THE GROUND. POSSIBLE TORNADO. TIME ESTIMATED.
1000 PM TSTM WND DMG CEDARVILLE 35.57N 94.37W
03/19/2012 CRAWFORD AR EMERGENCY MNGR
AROUND 15 TREES BETWEEN 1 AND 2 FEET IN DIAMETER
UP-ROOTED OR BROKEN OFF. POSSIBLE TORNADO. TIME
ESTIMATED.
1000 PM TSTM WND DMG CEDARVILLE 35.57N 94.37W
03/19/2012 CRAWFORD AR BROADCAST MEDIA
TREES DOWN AND BUILDINGS DESTROYED. POSSIBLE TORNADO.
1000 PM TSTM WND DMG ROLAND 35.42N 94.51W
03/19/2012 SEQUOYAH OK EMERGENCY MNGR
POWER POLE AND TREES DOWN IN ROLAND.
1005 PM TSTM WND DMG CEDARVILLE 35.57N 94.37W
03/19/2012 CRAWFORD AR EMERGENCY MNGR
3 FOOT DIAMETER TREE DOWN AT AR HWY 220 EAST AND LUCIAN
WOOD ROAD NEAR CEDARVILLE.
1015 PM TSTM WND DMG CHESTER 35.68N 94.18W
03/19/2012 CRAWFORD AR EMERGENCY MNGR
TREES DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED.
0825 AM FLASH FLOOD 3 E OWASSO 36.27N 95.80W
03/20/2012 ROGERS OK PUBLIC
86TH STREET NORTH AT CENTENNIAL PARK CLOSED DUE TOHIGH
WATER
&&
SAAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
913 AM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0800 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 ESE BERNICE 36.60N 94.88W
03/20/2012 M6.30 INCH DELAWARE OK PUBLIC
NEAR MONKEY ISLAND
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 8 E CLAREMORE 36.31N 95.47W
03/20/2012 M4.50 INCH ROGERS OK PUBLIC
0800 AM HEAVY RAIN N BEGGS 35.74N 96.07W
03/20/2012 M4.75 INCH OKMULGEE OK PUBLIC
0800 AM HEAVY RAIN LANGLEY 36.46N 95.05W
03/20/2012 M7.50 INCH MAYES OK PUBLIC
0800 AM HEAVY RAIN ROSE 36.22N 95.03W
03/20/2012 M6.50 INCH MAYES OK PUBLIC
0800 AM HEAVY RAIN 9 NE AFTON 36.79N 94.85W
03/20/2012 M7.00 INCH OTTAWA OK PUBLIC
0800 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 S LEONARD 35.89N 95.80W
03/20/2012 M6.50 INCH WAGONER OK PUBLIC
0800 AM HEAVY RAIN LOCUST GROVE 36.20N 95.17W
03/20/2012 M7.20 INCH MAYES OK PUBLIC
0800 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 S BROKEN ARROW 36.02N 95.79W
03/20/2012 M6.25 INCH TULSA OK PUBLIC
S 101ST AND ELM
0800 AM HEAVY RAIN SALINA 36.29N 95.15W
03/20/2012 M7.25 INCH MAYES OK PUBLIC
0800 AM HEAVY RAIN GLENPOOL 35.96N 96.01W
03/20/2012 M4.50 INCH TULSA OK PUBLIC
0800 AM HEAVY RAIN 6 SW HULAH 36.87N 96.11W
03/20/2012 M3.20 INCH OSAGE OK PUBLIC
NEAR BOWRING
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN MAZIE 36.11N 95.36W
03/20/2012 M6.00 INCH MAYES OK PUBLIC
A LITTLE OVER 6 INCHES AND STILL RAINING.
0800 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 E SPERRY 36.30N 95.94W
03/20/2012 E4.50 INCH TULSA OK PUBLIC
96TH STREET NORTH AND HIGHWAY 75
0900 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 SE SAND SPRINGS 36.11N 96.07W
03/20/2012 M4.20 INCH TULSA OK PUBLIC
BERRYHILL
0900 AM HEAVY RAIN EUFAULA 35.29N 95.58W
03/20/2012 M4.25 INCH MCINTOSH OK PUBLIC
0900 AM HEAVY RAIN NOWATA 36.70N 95.64W
03/20/2012 M4.00 INCH NOWATA OK PUBLIC
A LITTLE OVER 4 INCHES AND STILL RAINING.
0800 AM HEAVY RAIN INDIANOLA 35.16N 95.77W
03/20/2012 M5.50 INCH PITTSBURG OK PUBLIC
0800 AM HEAVY RAIN MANNFORD 36.13N 96.35W
03/20/2012 M4.25 INCH CREEK OK PUBLIC
0800 AM HEAVY RAIN 5 NNE WAGONER 36.03N 95.33W
03/20/2012 M7.00 INCH WAGONER OK PUBLIC
NEAR ROCKY POINT
0845 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 N BROKEN ARROW 36.10N 95.79W
03/20/2012 M4.28 INCH TULSA OK PUBLIC
NEAR BATTLE CREEK GOLF COURSE
0600 AM HEAVY RAIN 6 WNW HULBERT 35.97N 95.24W
03/20/2012 M7.00 INCH CHEROKEE OK PUBLIC
4 MILES NORTH OF SEQUOYAH STATE PARK
&&
KAHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
940 AM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0800 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 E MIAMI 36.87N 94.82W
03/20/2012 M4.80 INCH OTTAWA OK PUBLIC
JUST SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 10
&&
KAHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
950 AM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0950 PM FLASH FLOOD MUSKOGEE 35.75N 95.37W
03/19/2012 MUSKOGEE OK BROADCAST MEDIA
MAIN STREET IN MUSKOGEE BLOCKED OFF DUE TO HIGH WATER
1105 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 N EUREKA SPRINGS 36.46N 93.74W
03/19/2012 CARROLL AR COUNTY OFFICIAL
SEVERAL TREES BLOWN DOWN ON HIGHWAY 23.
0905 AM FLASH FLOOD 5 SSW MOUNTAINBURG 35.57N 94.20W
03/20/2012 CRAWFORD AR EMERGENCY MNGR
HIGHWAY 282 CLOSED SOUTH OF MOUNTAINBURG AT FROG
CREEK/BAYOU
0914 AM FLASH FLOOD ALMA 35.48N 94.22W
03/20/2012 CRAWFORD AR EMERGENCY MNGR
LANCASTER BRIDGE CLOSED AT HIGHWAY 282 NEAR ALMA
&&
SAAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
958 AM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0830 AM FLASH FLOOD MIAMI 36.87N 94.88W
03/20/2012 OTTAWA OK EMERGENCY MNGR
ROADS CLOSED...STREET A AND 15TH NE...BEHIND THE SONIC.
ALSO 18TH AND C STREET NE AT MIAMI BLVD TO STREET D NE.
&&
SAAThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
The Kiamichi River near Antlers rose above its flood stage of 25 feet at 10:30 am CDT on March 20th. The river crested at 31.20 feet at 1:30 am CDT on the 21st, resulting in moderate flooding. The river fell below flood stage at 10:00 pm CDT on the 22nd.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oklahoma in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, March 2012
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: 367786.