Advance Flash Flood Watch Issued For Northeastern Oklahoma

Spring – and spring break – will get a wet start in Green Country as a large storm system moves in from the west.

"It is going to bring significant rains and the threat of some severe weather," said News On 6 meteorologist Mike Grogan.

The system is expected to make itself felt in northeastern Oklahoma by Monday afternoon and should "stall out" here for a day or two, Grogan said.

"We could be talking about 5 to 10 inches of rain in at least some locations," he said. It is not yet clear whether the heaviest rain will be in far eastern Oklahoma, Arkansas or Texas.

The National Weather Service has issued an advance flash flood watch in effect from Monday afternoon through Wednesday morning for parts of east-central Oklahoma and northeast Oklahoma. Counties under the flash flood watch include Tulsa, Rogers, Nowata, Mayes, Craig, Delaware, Okmulgee, Muskogee, Sequoyah, Wagoner, Mayes, Adair, Cherokee and Nowata.

See a full list of counties included in the flood watch

"This will likely be a major, if not catastrophic flooding event if this system's evolution pans out like it has been modeled over the past several days," Grogan said. "Since it is Spring Break for Oklahoma students, many families are out camping or enjoying recreational activities outdoors. My recommendation is that you postpone any activity that involves being near rivers or streams through midweek.

"River- and stream-flooding is anticipated along with flash-flooding all throughout Green Country. This could be a life-threatening situation for anyone who ignores the flooding threat this week."

Several Arkansas counties are also under the flash flood watch including Benton, Sebastian and Washington.

WARN Team Weather

"That will bring a severe weather threat for all of eastern Oklahoma including a threat for high winds, some hail – maybe a tornado – but the main threat will shift to flooding, especially in far southeastern Oklahoma," Grogan said.

Get spring weather safety tips from WARN Team Chief Meteorologist Travis Meyer

This front follows record-setting temperatures Saturday in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

At Tulsa International Airport, the warmest low temperature record set on March 17, 2011, was broken when the mercury reached 68 degrees early Saturday. The previous record was 65 degrees.

The National Weather Service says the warmest minimum temperature for March 16 at Will Rogers World Airport occurred late Friday when the low bottomed out at 60 degrees. Previously, the warmest low temperature in Oklahoma City was 57 degrees on March 16, 2003.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

As always, keep checking back to NewsOn6.com and News On 6 for the WARN Team's latest weather conditions and forecast.