Two drivers drowned in Pottawatomie and Lincoln counties on April 30 when their vehicles were swept away by floodwaters. In Pottawatomie County, a sheriff’s deputy attempted a rescue but was caught in the current; he was hospitalized and later released. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported the Lincoln County incident near Prague, where floodwaters trapped a vehicle on a highway.
The National Weather Service (NWS) Tulsa issued a Flash Flood Warning for southeastern Muskogee, Sequoyah, eastern Haskell, and northern Le Flore counties until 10:15 local time (LT) on May 2. Subsequently, a Flood Warning was issued to replace the Flash Flood Warning, extending until 23:05 LT on May 2, affecting areas in northeast Oklahoma, including Creek, Okmulgee, and Wagoner counties.
NWS office in Norman issued a Flash Flood Warning for southern Oklahoma counties, including Comanche and Cotton, as well as parts of northern Texas, valid until 09:00 LT on May 2. The warning specifically highlights the dangers of flooding during nighttime hours. Additionally, a Flood Warning was issued for portions of central, east central, southeast, and southern Oklahoma, encompassing counties such as Grady and Hughes.
Between 25 and 65 mm (1 to 2.5 inches) of rain had already fallen. Oklahoma City set a record for April rainfall, reaching 319 mm (12.55 inches), surpassing the 1947 record of 302 mm (11.91 inches). Statewide, Oklahoma approached the 1942 record for monthly average rainfall of 210 mm (8.3 inches), according to Oklahoma State Climatologist Gary McManus…