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Memorial Day Deluge: Oklahoma Prepares For Heavy Holiday Weekend Flooding

Heavy flooding at the intersection of Main Street and Lahoma Ave. in Norman on May 19, 2015.
Steven Anderson
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Heavy flooding at the intersection of Main Street and Lahoma Ave. in Norman on May 19, 2015.

Updated 7:49 p.m. National Weather Service forecaster warns of potentially "deadly flood and flash flood event” over the Memorial Day weekend.  

-Fo

Flash Flood Watch remains in effect through Monday morning. 

“We’re expecting about 2-5 inches over quite a large area, and we could even see a large area of 4-7 inches across southern Oklahoma and north Texas, where they’ve already had a whole lot of rain over the past month,” said Norman Forecast Office meteorologist Marc Austin.

Parts of central Oklahoma have seen 15 to 20 inches over the past 30 days.

With the ground already saturated, there will be travel concerns as a lot of people hit the road for the Memorial Day holiday.

“We expect a lot more roads to be underwater as we head into the weekend,” Austin said. “Now you never know what’s beneath the water on that road or bridge. In fact, a few bridges and several roads have been washed out.”

The depth of water isn’t always obvious, and six inches of water is enough for drivers to lose control of their vehicles. A foot of water can float a car or a truck, and two feet of rushing water is enough to carry the vehicle away. Norman police have updated maps of areas most likely to flood, and posted several flood tips to their Facebook page:

  • Pay attention to weather forecasts for local flash flood watches and alerts.
  • If you reside in a flood prone area, before leaving your house turn off all utilities, gas, and electricity at the main switch.
  • Do not drive through a flooded area or drive around barricades that indicate the road is closed. More people drown in their cars than in any other location.
  • Do not walk through flowing water and stay away from downed power lines. Currents can be deceptive; 6 inches of moving water can knock you off your feet.

There's also danger for people planning to spend the weekend on a boat due to high lake levels that may create hidden obstacles, unusable docks, floating debris, and strong currents.

Credit Norman Forecast Office / National Weather Service
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National Weather Service

The risk of severe weather increases Saturday. Most of the western half of Oklahoma is under a slight risk for severe storms.

The tornado potential will be low, but large hail up to the size of golf balls and 70 mile-per-hour winds will be possible with the strongest storms.

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Brian Hardzinski is from Flower Mound, Texas and a graduate of the University of Oklahoma. He began his career at KGOU as a student intern, joining KGOU full time in 2009 as Operations and Public Service Announcement Director. He began regularly hosting Morning Edition in 2014, and became the station's first Digital News Editor in 2015-16. Brian’s work at KGOU has been honored by Public Radio News Directors Incorporated (PRNDI), the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters, the Oklahoma Associated Press Broadcasters, and local and regional chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists. Brian enjoys competing in triathlons, distance running, playing tennis, and entertaining his rambunctious Boston Terrier, Bucky.
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