Flooding Closes Roads, Forces Evacuations Across Northeastern Oklahoma

Severe weather moved across the northern half of the state late Monday and early Tuesday morning.  That weather produced heavy rains which led to flooding across wide stretches of Nowata and Craig counties.  

Monday, April 30th 2012, 10:58 pm

By: News On 6

Flooding Closes Roads, Forces Evacuations Across Northeastern Oklahoma

Severe storms hit northern Oklahoma late Monday and early Tuesday morning, producing heavy rains which led to flooding across wide stretches of Nowata and Craig counties.

Video from SkyNews6 showed major flooding in the Coffeyville area Tuesday morning.

The storms also produced several tornadoes Monday evening.

Two tornadoes reportedly touched down near Medford Monday night. KWTV Storm Tracker Val Castor reported seeing major damage about one mile west of Medford. Several barns and outbuildings were reportedly destroyed.

A tornado caused minor damage to rural areas southwest and northeast of Nowata.

The Nowata County Sheriff's Office said there were no injuries from the storm as it moved across their county.

Five to ten inches of rain fell along the Oklahoma-Kansas state line as the storms moved to the east. The National Weather Service says a flash flood warning remains in effect for Craig, Nowata and Ottawa counties.

Several highways also remain closed Tuesday because of flooding.

Nowata County - State Highway 10 east of US Highway 169 near Lenapah
Kay County - US Highway 77 south of Tonkawa & State Highway 156 between US Highway 60 and Marland
Osage County - State Highway 18 north of Fairfax
Grant County - State Highway 11 east and west of Medford & US Highway 81 between the Oklahoma/Kansas border and Pond Creek

In the community of Welch in Craig County, residents woke up to wind damage Tuesday morning. At least one home lost its roof when the storms moved through.

Empire Electric says some 600 customers in Craig and Ottawa counties remain without power Tuesday.

Public Service Company of Oklahoma says most customers in Tulsa and Nowata counties without power late Monday and early Tuesday have had their service restored.

The Red Cross is assisting several families who were evacuated because of flooding.

South Coffeyville - Family of 2 assisted with food and a place to stay after their home flooded.
Delaware – family of 3 assisted after their mobile home was destroyed in last night's storm.
Salina – assisting a family of 8 after a lightning strike sparked a house fire.

Sign up for News On 6 mobile weather alerts