To issue these river forecasts, local NWS offices rely upon forecast guidance generated by a regional NWS River Forecast Center (RFC). The RFCs use complex hydrologic computer models to forecast rivers. NWS Tulsa is serviced by two RFCs, the co-located Arkansas-Red Basin River Forecast Center (ABRFC) and the Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center (LMRFC) in Slidell, Louisiana.

• Latest info on the May 1st Flash Flood Event 05/01/09
• Join CoCoRaHS! - CoCoRaHS is a volunteer network of rain, snow, and hail observers 04/01/09
• Flood Safety Awareness Week March 16-20, 2009
• Spring 2009 Flood Outlook 03/13/09
• Change in Flood Stage for the Red River at Arthur City 10/24/08
• New River Forecast Point Near Antlers 12/20/07
• Change in Flood Stage for Verdigris River Near Claremore 10/10/07
• Change in Flood Stage for Bird Creek near Avant 07/18/07

Most of the forecast points in the NWS Tulsa area have telemetered river gage equipment. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) own and/or maintain the vast majority of these river gages.

• Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service - Recent observations and forecasts, as well as station information, for area rivers and lakes.
• River and Lake level Summary
• Daily River 7am Stage and Forecast

The forecasts of river stages is generated by complex computer models at the RFCs which incorporate many factors. The local NWS offices receive these river stage forecasts from the RFCs and generate public products under several headings:

• River Flood Warning an initial product warning interests that a river is forecast to rise above flood stage.
• River Flood Statement a followup product which updates a River Flood Warning.
• River Statement a product which provides information when a river is forecast to reach Action Stage or is rising but expected to remain below Flood Stage.
• List of all NWS Tulsa Hydrologic Text Products (RRS feeds available)

Precipitation data is vital to river forecasting. Local NWS offices must supply the RFCs with precipitation data to input into their computer models. The ABRFC and the LMRFC precipitation gage data is blended with precipitation estimates from a network of WSR-88D radars to produce cumulative precipitation maps. This processed data is one of the main inputs into the RFC's hydrologic model.

• Current and Archived Precipitation for Eastern Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas
• Current Hourly Precipitation Analysis
• Recent Rainfall from the Oklahoma Mesonet

In the past, river forecasts were made strictly on the basis of rainfall which had occurred. Today, river forecasts incorporate quantitative precipitation forecasts (QPF) into the hydrologic model, as well. This has led to more accurate river forecasts, especially in the fall and winter months, when areal rainfall tends to be more uniform.

• WFO Tulsa QPF
• County Rainfall Probability Exceedance Forecast
• ABRFC QPF
• LMRFC QPF

• Current 7-Day Risk Analysis for Flash Flooding and Heavy Rainfall
• Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service - Comprehensive river and rainfall information
• 5-Day River Flood Outlook for Eastern Oklahoma and West Central Arkansas
• 5-Day River Flood Outlook for Northwest Arkansas
• Upper Illinois River 48-hour Recreation Forecast
• Spring Flood Outlook

• Drought Information for Eastern Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas
• Local Drought Information Statement
• Arkansas-Red River Forecast Center Drought Briefing
• National Drought Information
• Oklahoma Drought Information (Oklahoma Mesonet)

• Flood Safety Information
• Turn Around Don't Drown!
• FloodSmart
• FLASH (Federal Alliance for Safe Homes) - Strengthening Homes and Safeguarding Families
• The USGS and COE operate most of their stream gages on a cooperative basis with other Federal, state, and local agencies that fund individual gaging stations for agency-specific projects or regulatory needs. For more information, see the USGS fact sheets, "Stream Gaging and Flood Forecasting, a Partnership of the USGS and the NWS" and "Streamflow Information for the Nation."
• National Flood Insurance Program (FEMA)
• Glossary of Hydrologic Terms
• Hydrology Job Information (pdf, 1.8Mb)

• Arkansas-Red River Forecast Center
• Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Tulsa District
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Little Rock District
• U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) (Real-time Streamflow Data for Oklahoma or Arkansas)
• Oklahoma Water Resources Board