Flash Flood — Alfalfa, Oklahoma

2008-09-12 · near Burlington, Alfalfa, Oklahoma

Event narrative

Highway 8/58 was closed due to water over the roadway. Numerous homes and businesses had water up to the front entryways. At least 100 homes suffered minor water damage. Monetary damages were estimated.

Wider weather episode

A prolonged area of southwest flow aloft developed over much of Oklahoma during the period from the 10th through the 12th. Numerous upper level disturbances moving through the flow, as well as a very moist air mass allowed for several rounds of showers and thunderstorms to develop and move northeast, much of the time moving over the same areas. Moisture associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Lowell added to the mix, with an added depth of moisture that only made the situation worse. Rainfall rates of one to one-and-a-half inches were common, with some areas receiving near three inch per hour rates. Widespread flooding was reported over a large portion of northern Oklahoma. Numerous homes and business' were flooded. At least a half to two-thirds of the roadways from Woodward to Kay county were closed at some point during the event. Numerous roadways were damaged, with at least 125 miles of roadway damaged in Alfalfa county alone. Half of the roadways in Pond Creek and Lamont were damaged, and 40 percent of the bridges were damaged. Numerous rounds of the precipitation allowed for widespread river flooding as well. The Chikaskia River reached its highest level ever recorded. This caused several homes to be destroyed. In all, 20 homes were completely destroyed, 14 homes sustained major damage, 52 homes sustained minor damage, and 96 homes sustained at least some damame. Damage totals for the event reached over $8 million.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (36.9102, -98.4328)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 136939. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.