Flash Flood in Adair County, Oklahoma

Locally heavy rainfall resulted in the flooding of portions of several county roads. A vehicle was driven into a flooded low water crossing west of Stilwell, where it was washed downstream. Four people were inside the vehicle at the time. A 14-year old boy and a 9-year old girl in the vehicle were taken to the hospital, treated, and released. A 6-year old girl was drowned in the vehicle. A 43-year old man was also drowned, and was recovered eleven miles downstream, two days after the incident.

Severe thunderstorms moved through eastern Oklahoma during the late afternoon and evening of the 4th. The atmosphere became moderately unstable ahead of a cold front approaching from the north and a dry line approaching from the west. Deep layer and low level wind shear increased during the afternoon and evening across the area, with the approach of a strong upper level disturbance, and became very strong by early evening. The combination of moderately strong instability and strong to very strong wind shear resulted in some supercell thunderstorm structures, as well as a severe squall line that moved through the region. Multiple tornadoes occurred across eastern Oklahoma from these storms. Damaging wind and large hail up to quarter size also occurred. Heavy rainfall resulted in localized flash flooding.