Storms continue across western Oklahoma

From Staff Reports

Published: June 8, 2008

The National Weather Service has allowed a tornado warning for western Custer and eastern Roger Mills counties to expire, but severe thunderstorms continue to track east across the state.

The storms form a line west of Reydon to 4 miles north of Cheyenne to Hammon. Tennis ball-sized hail and winds reaching 70 miles per hour are likely with the storm, the service said.

Winds reaching 60 to 70 miles per hour and baseball-sized hail have been reported earlier with these storms.

Flash flood warnings are in effect until 10:30 p.m. in central Roger Mills County, southwestern Dewey County, and northwestern Custer County.

Some street flooding has been reported in central Roger Mills County, but no injuries or damage have been reported.

The thunderstorms in northwest Oklahoma have also prompted the service to issue a severe thunderstorm watch in several state counties.

The watch is effective until 10 p.m. in Alfalfa, Beckham, Blaine, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Garfield, Grant, Greer, Harmon, Harper, Kay, Major, Roger Mills, Washita, Woods and Woodward.

The area most at risk for severe weather is located along and northwest of a line extending from Stillwater in Payne County to Oklahoma City in Oklahoma County, Lawton in Comanche County and Vernon, Texas, according to the weather service.

The thunderstorms are expected to develop into a storm complex that will spread southeast during the night, according to the weather service.

As the storms first develop, large hail, damaging straight-line winds and tornadoes are possible, according to the weather service. But as the storms form into a complex and form in a line, the tornado threat will diminish.

Flood danger in northern Oklahoma

Some of the storms could create heavy, localized rainfall, prompting the weather service to issue a flash flood watch over much of northern Oklahoma.

The watch is effective from tonight through Monday evening in Craig, Creek, Delaware, Mayes, Nowata, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Rogers, Tulsa, Wagoner and Washington counties.

The watch is effective from this evening to Monday morning in Alfalfa, Dewey, Ellis, Garfield, Grant, Harper, Kay, Major, Noble, Roger Mills, Woods and Woodward counties.

An unrelated flood warning remains in effect through Monday evening in Muskogee County. Minor flooding on the Arkansas River near Muskogee is occurring, and at 8 a.m. today the river was still about a foot above flood stage, according to the weather service.

Oklahoma City-area forecast

Tonight: Increasing clouds. Low around 65. South winds between 17 and 25 mph, gusting to 29 mph. Sixty percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, especially after 1 a.m. Some storms could produce heavy rainfall.

Monday: Mostly cloudy. High near 74. North-northwest winds 9 to 11 mph, gusting to 20 mph. Sixty percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Some storms could produce heavy rainfall.

Oklahoma statewide forecast

Tonight: Increasing clouds. Highs from upper 50s to low 70s. Strong northerly winds in the northwest, strong southerly winds elsewhere. Showers and thunderstorms possible in the southeast and likely elsewhere.

Monday: Cloudy. Highs in mid to upper 70s. Breezy. Showers and thunderstorms possible in the northwest and likely elsewhere.

Comments