August 18-19, 2007 River Flooding

Canadian River Flooding

The Canadian River had three different gauges exceed flood stage as a result of the heavy rainfall August 18-19. Some of the gauges went into major flood stage. All three of the gauges experienced crests that were in the top five highest of all time at their respective stations. Several of the stations (Bridgeport and Union City) have not experienced crests that high in the past half-century. Bridgeport had a record crest, which broke a record that had been held since 1914, or for 93 years! The "impact descriptions" provided were taken from the AHPS website and describe theoretical conditions at a certain river stage at a given location.

Bridgeport

EXCEEDED BANKFULL:  N/A            EXCEEDED FLOOD STAGE:  N/A
  CRESTED:  21.03 FT  08/19  330PM
  RECORD FLOODING OCCURRED
  IMPACT DESCRIPTION: AT 21 FEET...FLOODING AFFECTS CROPLANDS...PASTURES...AND 
                      OIL WELLS NEAR THE RIVER. FLOOD PLAIN FIELDS AT HIGHER 
                      ELEVATIONS AWAY FROM THE RIVER MAY BE CUT OFF FROM EASY 
                      ACCESS BY HIGH WATER IN SIDE CHANNELS. SAND DREDGING 
                      OPERATIONS ARE AFFECTED. UPSTREAM POINTS IN SOUTHERN 
                      BLAINE COUNTY MAY SEE FLOODING BEFORE THE AREAS NEAR 
                      BRIDGEPORT IN NORTHERN CADDO COUNTY. DOWNSTREAM POINTS
                      IN SOUTHWESTERN CANADIAN COUNTY ARE AFFECTED HOURS LATER.   

  NOTES:              THE CREST OF 21.03 FEET BREAKS THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 19.40
                      FEET WHICH WAS SET ON MAY 3 1914. THEREFORE...FLOODING THIS 
                      SEVERE HAS NOT BEEN EXPERIENCED AT BRIDGEPORT IN THE LAST
                      93 YEARS.

Union City

View of the bridge where the staff gauge is sited during the flooding.
View of the bridge where the staff gauge is sited during low flow.


  EXCEEDED BANKFULL:  N/A            EXCEEDED FLOOD STAGE:  N/A
  CRESTED:  13.50 FT  08/20  230PM
  MAJOR FLOODING OCCURRED
  IMPACT DESCRIPTION: AT 13 FEET...VALLEY-WIDE FLOODING WITH DEPTHS UP TO 6 FEET 
                      OCCURS ALONG THE RIVER ON THE CANADIAN-GRADY COUNTY BORDER 
                      FROM NEAR U.S. HIGHWAY 81 BETWEEN UNION CITY AND MINCO TO 
                      NEAR TUTTLE. AGRICULTURAL LANDS AND LOCAL ROADS ARE THE 
                      AREAS MOST AFFECTED ALONG THE CANADIAN RIVER.    

  NOTES:              THE CREST OF 13.50 FEET IS THE THIRD HIGHEST ALL TIME 
                      AT UNION CITY. THERE HAS NOT BEEN A CREST THIS HIGH SINCE
                      MAY 31 1937...OR IN THE LAST 70 YEARS.

Purcell

Not all of these pictures weren't taken from the Purcell river gauge, but rather from Interstate-35 near the Norman river gauge, unless otherwise indicated.

Looking downstream from Interstate 35.
Also looking downstream from the highway.
Looking upstream from Interstate 35.
Also looking upstream from the highway.
Picture of the staff gauge at Purcell.


  EXCEEDED BANKFULL:  N/A            EXCEEDED FLOOD STAGE:  N/A
  CRESTED:  15.40 FT  08/21  1100PM
  MAJOR FLOODING OCCURRED
  IMPACT DESCRIPTION: NOT AVAILABLE    

  NOTES:              THE CREST OF 15.40 FEET IS THE SECOND HIGHEST ALL TIME 
                      AT PURCELL. THERE HAS NOT BEEN A CREST THIS HIGH SINCE
                      MAY 3 1990.

North Canadian River Flooding

The North Canadian River had five different gauges exceed flood stage as a result of the heavy rainfall August 18-19. Some of the gauges went into major flood stage, and Watonga even set a record crest in the early morning hours of Sunday, August 19th. El Reno also set a record crest early in the afternoon of Monday August 20th, a record that had been held since 1965. The North Canadian River at Watonga rose from 8.10 feet to 19.70 feet in only 4 hours. All five of the gauges experienced crests that were in the top five highest of all time at their respective stations.

Watonga


  EXCEEDED BANKFULL:  08/19  330AM   EXCEEDED FLOOD STAGE:  08/19 345AM
  CRESTED:  19.70 FT  08/19  530AM
  RECORD FLOODING OCCURRED
  IMPACT DESCRIPTION: AT 20 FEET...FLOODING OF MOSTLY CROPLANDS...
                      PASTURES...AND RURAL ROADS OCCURS. RURAL FLOODING 
                      EXTENDS FROM NEAR WATONGA IN BLAINE COUNTY...DOWNSTREAM 
                      TO NEAR CALUMET IN WESTERN CANADIAN COUNTY. THE 
                      NORTHWEST EDGE OF THE TOWN OF GREENFIELD MAY SEE 
                      SHALLOW DEPTHS. NO OTHER TOWNS WILL BE AFFECTED. 

  NOTES:              THE CREST OF 19.70 FEET BREAKS THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF
                      19.24 FEET WHICH WAS SET ON OCTOBER 3 1986. THE RIVER
                      AT WATONGA ROSE 11.6 FEET IN THE FOUR HOURS PRIOR TO 
                      CRESTING...A RATE OF NEARLY 3 FEET PER HOUR.

El Reno


  EXCEEDED BANKFULL:  08/19  530AM   EXCEEDED FLOOD STAGE:  08/19 800AM
  CRESTED:  23.33 FT  08/20  100PM
  RECORD FLOODING OCCURRED
  IMPACT DESCRIPTION: AT 23 FEET...FLOOD DEPTHS SEEN IN EL RENO AND NEARBY 
                      RAILYARDS ARE THE MOST SEVERE SINCE SEPTEMBER 1965. IN 
                      CANADIAN COUNTY...OVERFLOWS COVER APPROXIMATELY 30
                      SQUARE MILES. FLOOD DEPTHS VARYING UP TO 6 FEET ARE 
                      DESTRUCTIVE TO SUBURBAN AND RURAL RESIDENCES AND 
                      PROPERTIES BETWEEN EL RENO AND YUKON. OTHER AREAS ARE 
                      ISOLATED BY LIFE-THREATENING FLOWS ON LOCAL ROADS. 

  NOTES:              THE CREST OF 23.33 FEET BREAKS THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF
                      22.22 FEET WHICH WAS SET ON SEPTEMBER 21 1965.

Yukon

Pictures were taken near the Overholster Dam, just downstream of the Yukon river gauge, unless otherwise indicated

The Overholster Dam while the North Canadian River was flooding.
The Overholster Dam Spillway full of water.
Flooding at a trailer park near the dam.


  EXCEEDED BANKFULL:  08/19  630AM   EXCEEDED FLOOD STAGE:  08/19 230PM
  CRESTED:  16.51 FT  08/21  430AM
  MODERATE FLOODING OCCURRED
  IMPACT DESCRIPTION: AT 16 FEET...FLOODING OR ISOLATION OF SUBURBAN HOME 
                      SITES AND RURAL AREAS ALONG THE NORTH CANADIAN RIVER 
                      VALLEY OCCURS...FROM NEAR BANNER ROAD TO THE HEADWATERS 
                      OF LAKE OVERHOLSER. THE GARTH BROOKS AVENUE CROSSING 
                      NORTHWEST OF TOWN IS CLOSED BY FLOODWATERS. LOW-LYING 
                      RURAL ROADS ARE CLOSED BY FLOOD DEPTHS NEAR 4 FEET WITH 
                      DANGEROUSLY SWIFT CURRENTS. 

  NOTES:              THE CREST OF 16.51 FEET IS THE THIRD HIGHEST ALL TIME 
                      AT YUKON. THE RECORD...19.20 FEET...WAS SET ON 
                      JUNE 10 1995. AN INITIAL CREST OF 16.21 FEET OCCURRED 
                      ON AUGUST 19TH. THE RIVER THEN FELL AND CRESTED AGAIN
                      AT 16.51 FEET ON AUGUST 21ST. THE INITIAL CREST OF 16.21
                      FEET WAS THE FOURTH HIGHEST ALL TIME.

Oklahoma City


  EXCEEDED BANKFULL:  08/19  645AM   EXCEEDED FLOOD STAGE:  08/19 700AM
  CRESTED:  22.38 FT  08/22  630AM
  MODERATE FLOODING OCCURRED
  IMPACT DESCRIPTION: AT 22 FEET...CROPLANDS... PASTURES... AND RURAL ROADS 
                      EAST OF OKLAHOMA CITY NEAR THE TOWNS OF SPENCER AND 
                      JONES ARE INUNDATED BY SIGNIFICANT OVERFLOW DEPTHS. 
                      SPENCER IS NOT AFFECTED BY FLOODWATERS...WHILE SHALLOW 
                      FLOODING MAY REACH THE OUTSKIRTS OF JONES.  

  NOTES:              THE CREST OF 22.38 FEET IS THE FOURTH HIGHEST ALL TIME 
                      AT OKLAHOMA CITY. THE RECORD...24.80 FEET...WAS SET ON 
                      MAY 9 1993. AN INITIAL CREST OF 22.09 FEET OCCURRED ON 
                      AUGUST 19TH. THE RIVER THEN FELL AND CRESTED AGAIN AT
                      22.38 FEET ON AUGUST 22ND. THE INITIAL CREST OF 22.09
                      FEET WAS THE FIFTH HIGHEST ALL TIME.

Harrah


  EXCEEDED BANKFULL:  08/19 1130AM   EXCEEDED FLOOD STAGE:  08/19 200PM
  CRESTED:  19.20 FT  08/23  300AM
  MAJOR FLOODING OCCURRED
  IMPACT DESCRIPTION: AT 19 FEET...SIGNIFICANT FLOODING AFFECTS AGRICULTURAL 
                      AREAS AND RURAL ROADS IN EASTERN OKLAHOMA COUNTY...THE 
                      SOUTHWEST CORNER OF LINCOLN COUNTY...AND NORTHWESTERN 
                      POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY.  

  NOTES:              THE CREST OF 19.20 FEET IS THE FOURTH HIGHEST ALL TIME 
                      AT HARRAH. THE RECORD...21.90 FEET...WAS SET ON 
                      MAY 9 1993.

Washita River Flooding

The Washita River had four different gauges exceed flood stage as a result of the heavy rainfall August 18-19. Some of the gauges went into major flood stage. The Washita River at Anadarko has not had a crest as high as the one on August 20th in the past half-century.

Clinton


  EXCEEDED BANKFULL:  08/19  100AM   EXCEEDED FLOOD STAGE:  08/19  130AM
  CRESTED:  21.66 FT  08/19  700AM
  MODERATE FLOODING OCCURRED
  IMPACT DESCRIPTION: AT 21 FEET...APPROXIMATELY 5 THOUSAND ACRES OF RURAL 
                      LANDS ARE COVERED BY DEPTHS UP TO 3 FEET... FROM AREAS 
                      NEAR THE MOUTH OF BARNITZ CREEK...TO NEAR CLINTON IN 
                      CUSTER COUNTY...AND DOWNSTREAM INTO WASHITA COUNTY. SOME 
                      FARMSTEADS ARE FLOODED AND OTHERS ISOLATED BY WATER OVER 
                      LOCAL ROADS. LOW FARM LEVEES MAY BE OVERTOPPED.

Carnegie


  EXCEEDED BANKFULL:  08/19  200AM   EXCEEDED FLOOD STAGE:  08/19  230AM
  CRESTED:  30.81 FT  08/19 1200PM
  MAJOR FLOODING OCCURRED
  IMPACT DESCRIPTION: AT 30 FEET...LOOK FOR WIDE FLOOD PLAIN COVERAGE ALONG THE 
                      WASHITA RIVER VALLEY IN EASTERN WASHITA AND WESTERN CADDO 
                      COUNTIES. MORE THAN FIVE THOUSAND ACRES OF FARM LANDS ARE 
                      COVERED BY FLOOD DEPTHS TO ABOUT 5 FEET. LOCAL HIGHWAYS MAY 
                      BE BLOCKED...ISOLATING SOME RURAL COMMUNITIES AND MANY 
                      FARMSTEADS.

Anadarko

View from South Bridge looking Downstream
View from South Bridge looking Upstream


  EXCEEDED BANKFULL:  08/19  430AM   EXCEEDED FLOOD STAGE:  08/19  600AM
  CRESTED:  26.02 FT  08/20  830PM
  MAJOR FLOODING OCCURRED
  IMPACT DESCRIPTION: AT 26 FEET...AREAS IN AND NEAR THE ANADARKO CITY PARK ARE 
                      FLOODED. FARM LEVEES ARE OVERTOPPED...AND PROPERTY SEVERELY 
                      DAMAGED. RURAL ROADS IN CADDO AND WESTERN GRADY COUNTIES 
                      ARE CLOSED.     

  NOTES:              THE CREST OF 26.02 FEET IS THE THIRD HIGHEST ALL TIME 
                      AT ANADARKO. THERE HAS NOT BEEN A CREST THIS HIGH SINCE
                      MAY 27 1949...OR IN THE LAST 58 YEARS.

Chickasha

View from Highway 81 Bridge looking Downstream
View from Rail Bridge, with accumulated debris
View looking at the Rail Bridge, Upstream
Flooding at the Chickasha Salvage Yard


  EXCEEDED BANKFULL:  08/19 1015AM   EXCEEDED FLOOD STAGE:  08/20  115AM
  CRESTED:  26.27 FT  08/21  800AM
  MAJOR FLOODING OCCURRED
  IMPACT DESCRIPTION: AT 26 FEET...FLOOD LEVELS UP TO A DEPTH OF 2 FEET AFFECT 
                      RESIDENTIAL AREAS IN NORTH CHICKASHA. SUBURBAN HOMES AND 
                      BUSINESSES EAST OF TOWN ARE INUNDATED BY GREATER DEPTHS. 
                      OVERFLOW DEPTHS ON AGRICULTURAL FIELDS VARY...RANGING UP 
                      TO 9 FEET.      

  NOTES:              THE CREST OF 26.27 FEET IS THE FOURTH HIGHEST ALL TIME 
                      AT CHICKASHA.

Other River Flooding

Besides the three main rivers that flooded due to the heavy rainfall on August 18-19 (North Canadian, Canadian and Washita), other rivers and creeks also flooded across portions of Western and Central Oklahoma. These rivers only had one or two river gauge stations report flooding conditions and therefore they are detailed here, in the "Other Rivers and Creeks" section.

Cimarron River at Guthrie


  EXCEEDED BANKFULL:  08/19  715PM   EXCEEDED FLOOD STAGE:  08/20 430AM
  CRESTED:  13.33 FT  08/20  915AM
  MINOR FLOODING OCCURRED
  IMPACT DESCRIPTION: AT 13 FEET...RIVER LEVELS APPROACH BANKFULL LEVELS IN 
                      LOGAN AND PAYNE COUNTIES. U.S. HIGHWAY 77 NORTH OF 
                      GUTHRIE MAY BE FLOODED. SOME LOW-LYING FIELDS AND OIL 
                      WELLS MAY BE ISOLATED...AND CATTLE STRANDED...BY WATER 
                      IN CUTOFF CHANNELS.

  NOTES:	      THE CIMARRON RIVER ALSO FLOODED AT PERKINS. THE CREST WAS 
                      17.93 FEET AT 624 PM ON AUGUST 20TH. THIS IS CONSIDERED
		      MINOR FLOODING.

Cottonwood Creek at Seward


  EXCEEDED BANKFULL:  08/19  530PM   EXCEEDED FLOOD STAGE:  08/19 615PM
  CRESTED:  30.12 FT  08/19 1030PM
  MODERATE FLOODING OCCURRED
  IMPACT DESCRIPTION: NONE AVAILABLE

  NOTES:	      COTTONWOOD CREEK ALSO FLOODED AT GUTHRIE. THE CREST WAS 
                      26.4 FEET AT 920 AM ON AUGUST 20TH. THIS IS CONSIDERED
                      MODERATE FLOODING.

Little River at Tecumsah


  EXCEEDED BANKFULL:  08/19 1000AM   EXCEEDED FLOOD STAGE:  08/19 1045AM
  CRESTED:  16.54 FT  08/20  330AM
  MODERATE FLOODING OCCURRED
  IMPACT DESCRIPTION: AT 16 FEET...SIGNIFICANT FLOODING TO DEPTHS OF 5 FEET 
                      DAMAGES CROPLANDS...PASTURES...AND RURAL ROADS ALONG 
                      THE RIVER DOWNSTREAM OF THE U.S. HIGHWAY 177 BRIDGE 
                      CROSSING...WITH LESSER DAMAGE OCCURRING UPSTREAM OF U.S. 
                      HIGHWAY 177. THE AREA AFFECTED IS ENTIRELY RURAL.

Little Washita River at Ninnekah


  EXCEEDED BANKFULL:  08/19  530AM   EXCEEDED FLOOD STAGE:  08/19  745AM
  CRESTED:  21.80 FT  08/19 1245PM
  MINOR FLOODING OCCURRED
  IMPACT DESCRIPTION: NONE AVAILABLE

  NOTES:              THIS IS THE HIGHEST CREST RECORDED AT NINNEKAH SINCE 
                      RIVER GAUGE READINGS BEGAN.

East Cache Creek at Walters


  EXCEEDED BANKFULL:  08/19  445AM   EXCEEDED FLOOD STAGE:  08/19  615AM
  CRESTED:  27.86 FT  08/20  630AM
  MAJOR FLOODING OCCURRED
  IMPACT DESCRIPTION: AT 27 FEET...VALLEY-WIDE FLOODING OF CROPLANDS...
                      PASTURES...AND LOCAL ROADS OCCURS IN SOUTHERN COMANCHE 
                      COUNTY AND COTTON COUNTY AND IS ACCOMPANIED BY FLOOD DEPTHS 
                      UP TO 6 FEET WITH VERY DANGEROUS CURRENTS.

  NOTES:	      THE EAST CACHE CREEK AT WALTERS WAS IN MAJOR FLOOD STAGE 
                      FOR OVER THREE CONSECUTIVE DAYS.

Deep Red Creek at Randlett


  EXCEEDED BANKFULL:  08/20  115AM   EXCEEDED FLOOD STAGE:  08/20  1045AM
  CRESTED:  20.76 FT  08/20  730PM
  MINOR FLOODING OCCURRED
  IMPACT DESCRIPTION: AT 20 FEET...SHALLOW FLOODING OCCURS OVER CROPLANDS...
                      PASTURES...AND LOW-LYING LOCAL ROADS ALONG AND NEAR 
                      THE CREEK.

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

August 18-19, 2007 River Flooding