Flash Flood — Comanche, Oklahoma

2010-06-14 · near Lawton, Comanche, Oklahoma

Event narrative

Numerous roads were closed due to high water. Several motorists had to be rescued after their automobiles stalled in the high water. One person drowned while trying to push his car out of the high water near NW Farris and 13th Street. No other serious injuries were reported.

Wider weather episode

Significant flooding occurred over parts of central Oklahoma. Numerous homes and cars were flooded. One person died, and at least 136 people were injured. Damage was estimated at $5.5 million in Oklahoma county alone.

The event began late on June 13th, as thunderstorms developed over northwest Oklahoma. The thunderstorms developed ahead of a slow moving cold front that was located over southwest Kansas into the northern Texas panhandle. A large outflow boundary also extended eastward. The thunderstorms became more numerous as they moved along the outflow boundary. Strengthened by the new rainfall, the outflow boundary dropped toward central Oklahoma, and a very moist low-level jet resulted in new thunderstorm development near the boundary.

The first round of significant rain impacted central Oklahoma around 3 am. This round moved east before another, longer lived, thunderstorm complex developed over the Oklahoma City metro area. The outflow boundary was located south of Interstate 40, and the low-level jet transported warm and unseasonably humid air north of the boundary, creating very heavy rain. Thunderstorms continued to develop over the southwest metro area, and slowly moved northeast. Rainfall rates averaged one to two inches per hour, with some thunderstorm bands producing rates near three inches per hour.

The heavy rain accumulated quickly immediately before and during the busy morning drive time. Numerous cars became stranded in the rapidly rising water. Roadways were covered by rapidly flowing water, and ponds, creeks, and rivers easily spilled over their banks. Navigating in and around the metro area became almost impossible, and many motorists had to be rescued by boat. After several hours, the persistent heavy rainfall tapered off around noon.

The larger area of heavy rainfall moved south as the outflow boundary moved into southern Oklahoma. Significant rain developed over southwest Oklahoma by early afternoon, and flash flooding once again became a problem. Lawton was hard hit, receiving between four and five inches of rain, resulting in several roadways becoming flooded. Numerous motorists had to be rescued from the high water. One motorist, unfortunately, lost his life when his vehicle stalled in flood waters.

Thunderstorms developed again over central Oklahoma late in the afternoon and evening, but luckily the duration of the thunderstorms was relatively short. By the time it was all said and done, widespread totals of five to nine inches were reported over much of Oklahoma City. Will Rogers World Airport reported its largest daily precipitation since records began in 1891, with 7.62 inches. Even higher totals were reported over the north-central portion of Oklahoma City, where nine to twelve inches was measured.

Strong winds caused some power outages during the event. At the peak of the event, over 6700 people were without power. Isolated pockets of wind damage did occur, with a power pole/power lines downed south of Drummond in Garfield county.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (34.5923, -98.3876)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 241764. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.