Flood — Tulsa, Oklahoma

2025-04-20 · near Leonard, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Event narrative

Locally heavy rainfall during the morning of the 20th resulted in high flows through area low water crossings. A vehicle was driven into one such low water crossing, and was washed downstream. Two people exited the vehicle in the flood, and got to safety, while two others drowned in the flood water. The victims weren't recovered until the following day, with around 100 first responders participating in the search efforts.

Wider weather episode

Strong to severe thunderstorms developed across portions of eastern Oklahoma during the late evening of the 19th, as a strong upper level disturbance slowly translated into the Southern Plains, increasing low level forcing along and ahead of a weak surface front that stretched across the area. Weak instability combined with strong wind shear to support some severe weather. The strongest storms produced damaging wind and large hail up to quarter size. Locally heavy rainfall resulted in some flash flooding.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (35.9248, -95.7757)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1258938. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.