"What’s left in the tower is all we’re going to get, and that’s been contaminated already because of the feed line,” he said.
Other areas with significant rainfall included Altus, with 4.35 inches, Tipton, 4.74 inches and Ringling with 4.49. A few homes were reported flooded in those areas.
Most areas in the south and southwest received more than 2 inches, while sites from central Oklahoma to Tulsa received more than an inch.
Officials reported rainfall rates in excess of 2 inches per hour with the heaviest thunderstorms and warned that excessive runoff would cause flooding of small creeks and streams, country roads and farmland along the banks of waterways.
"That’s been the focus today — the very heavy rains this morning and the flooding that went on across southern Oklahoma,” said Rick Smith, a weather service meteorologist. "If we had our way, we’d like to spread this heavy rainfall out over days or weeks. It’s unfortunate when it comes all at once.”
A flash flood watch remained in effect until 7 a.m. today as a chance for more thunderstorms was expected overnight.
"With so much rain that’s already fell in that area, it’s not going to take much to cause runoff problems,” Smith said.
In northwestern Oklahoma, flood warnings have been issued for the Cimarron River near Waynoka and Buffalo through the end of the week, according to the National Weather Service. Minor flooding is possible with rain expected to continue off and on through the end of this week.
In northeastern Oklahoma, flood warnings are also active through the end of the week on the Neosho River near Commerce and the Verdigris River near Lenapah.
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