Updated 6:49 p.m.: Flooding still a major concern
A Flash Flood Warning is in effect until 9:45 p.m. as heavy rain continues to fall across central Oklahoma.
High water caused a hole to form on the bridge of State Highway 9 over Interstate 35. Authorities closed the roadway and diverted traffic as the Oklahoma Department of Transportation worked to make the roadway passable.
The Oklahoma Mesonet reported central Oklahoma received nearly an inch of rain in less than 25 minutes Thursday afternoon. The National Weather Service says Blanchard, Norman, Chickasha, and Moore are all at a risk of more flooding as rain falls south and west of Interstate 44.
Updated 4:43 p.m.: Meteorologists say the severe weather threat for the Oklahoma City area has passed, but there's still the potential for tornadoes south of the metro through the evening hours.
421pm- Flooding is the biggest concern. There will also be a threat of hail, wind, and lightning. (pt 3/3)
— NWS Norman (@NWSNorman) May 19, 2015
Updated 3:40 p.m. The National Weather Service has extended a Tornado Warning for Cleveland and McClain counties, and into Pottawatomie County as a strong thunderstorm with multiple reports of a tornado moves through the Purcell and Lexington areas toward Shawnee and Bethel Acres south of the Oklahoma City metro.
Several thousand OG&E customers are without power, and Bethel Acres schools are holding students and buses until the threat passes.
According to Purcell emergency officials the storm sirens are not operating. More storms are forming west of Purcell.
— The Purcell Register (@PurcellRegister) May 19, 2015
As the storms moved through the region, Gov. Mary Fallin requested federal disaster assistance for three counties affected by severe storms and heavy flooding throughout the month of May.
“Oklahomans, many still shell-shocked and traumatized from the impacts of the May 2013 storms as well as the storms on March 25, 2015, were victimized once again by this month’s storms,” Fallin wrote in a letter to President Obama. "“The totality of these events has left the Oklahoma community, from survivors to first responders, disaster relief agencies to all levels of government, extended beyond their means."
Three people died and 40 were injured by storms this month. All of the deaths were attributed to drowning, and some Oklahoma Mesonet stations have recorded more than 16 inches of rain this month.
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Schools in Purcell and Norman are holding students, although Norman says parents can pick up their kids. The storm is not threatening the Oklahoma City metro, although flash flooding is a concern due to heavy rainfall and already saturated ground conditions. Parts of the state have received more than a foot of rain in the past two weeks.
You might be hearing tornado sirens...they are NOT the CIty of Moore's, and there is NO THREAT TO MOORE.
— Moore Emerg Ops Ctr (@MooreEOC) May 19, 2015
Much of central and southern Oklahoma is under a Tornado Watch until 9 p.m., and a Flash Flood Warning is in effect until 5:45 p.m. due to heavy rainfall.
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