More Rain Could Pose Trouble for Some Areas
By The Oklahoman
Mar. 18–HOBART — Strong storms caused street flooding Monday in western Oklahoma, while the rest of the state braced for strong storms expected to move across the state.
In Caddo County, a washout on a recently repaired culvert in Caddo County sent one man’s truck into a ditch.
“We were able to pull the man out of there with minor injuries,” Sheriff Gene Cain said. “He was taken to the hospital, and the last I heard he was doing just fine.”
Officials in Kiowa and Caddo counties reported minor street flooding.
“We got some street flooding in Hobart, but that’s nothing new since we’ve always had some problems with some of our roads,” said Stephen Grayson, Kiowa County’s emergency management director. “In the northeast part of our county — Mountain View — we’ve also had some reports of street flooding. But nothing major.
“Now if we keep getting this rain, we will have some problems.”
Hobart reported 1.82 inches of rain during a 12-hour span ending at 5 p.m. Monday, according to the Oklahoma Mesonet.
Small hail, meanwhile, also was reported in the central part of the county in Eakly and Binger.
Thunderstorms raked the entire southwest region during the early morning.
“We’re doing all right,” said Jeff Rector, Tillman County’s emergency management director. “The most I’ve heard of is half an inch of rain. It was moving pretty fast when it came through here.
“I’ll take everything we can get right now. We need the rain.”
Rain gauges in Washita County were brimming. A Mesonet collection site near Bessie received 2.28 inches of rain during a 12-hour period ending at 5 p.m.
Much of the western Oklahoma remained under a severe thunderstorm watch for much of the evening. In the meantime, central and eastern Oklahoma braced for the rain that was expected overnight. A tornado watch was issued for Atoka, Haskell, McCurtain, Bryan, Latimer, Pittsburg, Choctaw, Le Flore and Pushmataha counties. The tornado watch was to expire at 1 a.m.
Radar reports showed strong thunderstorms building over the area. Heavy showers and strong winds are expected in storms overnight. The threat of strong storms was expected to continue today.
In central Oklahoma, a flash flood watch was issued Monday afternoon for Seminole, Hughes, Murray, Pontotoc, Carter and Love counties until this evening.
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Copyright (c) 2008, The Oklahoman
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