Local
Western Oklahoma measures more than 9 inches of rain as storms threaten overnight
Rainfall topped 9 inches in parts of western Oklahoma, while Oklahoma City broke its daily record by midmorning Wednesday. Forecasters warned of more heavy rain and possible severe storms, including a tornado risk, overnight into Thursday.
Heavy rain flooded roads and pushed creeks and rivers higher across Oklahoma on Wednesday, with more storms expected overnight and into Thursday morning.
The National Weather Service in Norman said Oklahoma City had already exceeded its daily rainfall record by more than an inch as of 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14. Rain gauges around the county likely recorded 4 to 5 inches by that morning, the weather service said. It was the city’s heaviest rainfall in more than two years.
Western Oklahoma saw higher totals. Oklahoma Mesonet gauges recorded 9.26 inches in Hinton and 8.5 inches in Elk City over 24 hours. Weatherford received about 6 inches since Tuesday, while Yukon recorded nearly 6 inches.
Forecasters expected another 4 to 6 inches in a narrow part of the state by Thursday morning, with some places potentially receiving more. They also warned that storms could strengthen late Wednesday, bringing damaging wind, hail and possibly a tornado, particularly along and north of Interstate 44. Low-level wind shear could increase the tornado threat within stronger storms, according to the National Weather Service.
The downpour caused vehicle crashes in the Oklahoma City area and prompted water-rescue deployments. Oklahoma City firefighters searched both banks of a creek near SE 44th Street and Lightning Creek after receiving a report of a possible drowning, but did not find anyone.
“Do not enter or play in creeks during or after heavy rain,” the fire department warned, advising residents to stay away from creek banks and downed power lines and to call 911 to report downed lines.
Flooding also affected roads and neighborhoods. High water flowed along subdivision streets in southwest Moore, part of Highway 4 in Canadian County was temporarily closed, and Coltrane Road near Edmond was impassable earlier Wednesday.
The Canadian River near Mustang rose about 1.5 feet, with its flow gauge showing an increase of 252 cubic feet per second over 24 hours. Near Clinton, the Washita River rose nearly 13 feet since midnight, but Custer County Emergency Management Director Hardy Sperle said Wednesday morning that no flood damage had been reported and the river was mostly within its banks.
In Elk City, Elk Creek had overflowed its banks and was nearing an RV park, according to a storm spotter. A cold front following the storms was expected to bring cooler daytime highs in the 50s and 60s.