Active flood warnings are in effect across northeast Oklahoma this morning, with 3 to 6 inches of rainfall from overnight thunderstorms flooding roads and waterways in the Tulsa metro and Osage County — and a separate, building threat along the Neosho River that forecasters say will push Kansas and Oklahoma into moderate flooding conditions through the weekend.
Floods Active Now: Tulsa Area and Osage County
The National Weather Service in Tulsa issued morning flood warnings for Rogers, Tulsa and Washington counties — covering Claremore, Collinsville, Skiatook, Oologah, Foyil and Vera — until 2 PM CDT Thursday.
Between 2 and 4 inches of rain fell overnight, and numerous roads remain closed due to flooding. In Osage County, 3 to 6 inches of rain hit Skiatook, Barnsdall, Wynona, Fairfax and Avant.
The Arkansas River at Ralston is forecast to crest at 16.1 feet this afternoon before falling. Polecat Creek near Sapulpa is at 23.0 feet against a 21.0-foot flood stage, flooding pasturelands and oil fields, and is expected to fall below flood stage this afternoon.
The Neosho River: A Major Weekend Crest Taking Shape
The larger story is still developing. The Neosho River — currently running well below flood stage across southeastern Kansas — is forecast to undergo a dramatic rise beginning late Friday, ultimately cresting 4 to 5 feet above flood stage at multiple gauges on Sunday.
At Parsons, Kansas, the river sits at 10.5 feet against a 21.0-foot flood stage Thursday morning. Forecasters project it will crest at 25.2 feet Sunday — a rise of nearly 15 feet in 48 hours — before falling below flood stage Monday. Flood Warning in effect Friday night through Monday evening.
At Oswego, Kansas, the river is at 8.6 feet but is forecast to hit 22.0 feet Sunday — five feet above flood stage — with Riverside Park Drive and the road to the water plant inundated. That warning runs through late Tuesday.
Downstream in Commerce, Oklahoma, the Neosho is forecast to crest at 19.6 feet Sunday — nearly 5 feet over flood stage — cutting off low-lying areas around Miami, flooding Riverview Park and threatening State Highway 125 near the fairgrounds. That Flood Warning is in effect until further notice.
More Kansas Rivers on the Rise
Slate Creek at Wellington (Sumner/Cowley counties) is forecast to touch flood stage just after midnight tonight. The Chikaskia River near Corbin (Sumner County) is already at 10.8 feet against a 10.0-foot flood stage, cresting at 11.3 feet Friday morning. Caney River near Collinsville (Tulsa/Rogers counties) is expected to crest at 28.6 feet early Saturday — 2.6 feet above flood stage — closing county roads north of Collinsville through Sunday.
Texas: Sulphur River Winding Down
On the Texas side, the NWS Shreveport office extended a Flood Warning for the Sulphur River near Talco, affecting Bowie, Titus, Red River, Franklin and Morris counties — but this event is winding down, with the river at 20.4 feet and expected to fall below the 20.0-foot flood stage this morning.
What Drivers Must Know
“Nearly two feet of water will carry most vehicles away,” the NWS Wichita office warned. Do not drive around barricades or into any flooded roadway. Monitor river forecasts in real time at water.noaa.gov and local NWS offices through the weekend. The next round of rainfall on already-saturated soils could push rivers even higher than currently forecast.
