Flash flood warning issued Thursday, watch until Friday morning

(TULSA, Okla.) The National Weather Service in Tulsa has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Southwestern Rogers County, Central Osage County, Creek County, Western Wagoner County, Northwestern Muskogee County, Pawnee County, Okmulgee County and Tulsa County until 9:15 p.m. Thursday. At 3:18 p.m. Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. 1 to 2 inches of rain had fallen in some areas already. Rain rates will be very efficient given the tropical air mass in place. Flash flooding is expected to begin. Numerous showers and thunderstorms will continue to spread across eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas. These will be slow-moving, efficient rain producers, and will likely result in localized quick-onset flash flooding. There will also be some threat of rises on areas streams and rivers, depending on where the heaviest rains fall. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are possible in the warned area. This includes Interstate 44 between mile markers 192 and 244. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS: Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other drainage areas and low lying spots.