Flood warnings issued for local rivers

The National Weather Service Norman has issued a flood warning until Thursday afternoon for the Chikaskia River near Blackwell until Thursday afternoon or until the warning is cancelled.

At 10:30 a.m. Wednesday the stage was 34.0 feet. Major flooding is occurring and remains in the forecast. Flood stage is 29.0 feet.

The Chikaskia River will remain near 34.0 feet through early Wednesday afternoon and then begin falling by late Wednesday afternoon. The Chikaskia River will fall below flood stage mid-Thursday morning.

The NWS says at 34.0 feet, floodwaters cover much of the northeast portions of Blackwell. Residences and businesses suffer significant damages. Street flooding reaches very dangerous depths and speeds.

Highways 177 north and 60 east of Blackwell will likely be closed.

Blackwell Avenue east and Hubbard Road southeast of Blackwell are impassable. Rural lands are covered by floodwaters ranging up to 6 feet in depth in extreme northeastern Grant and Kay counties.

The Flood Warning continues for The Salt Fork Arkansas River at Tonkawa until late Saturday night…or until the warning is cancelled.

At 10:30 a.m. Wednesday the stage was 26.6 feet. Major flooding is occurring and Major flooding is forecast. The flood stage is 17.0 feet.

The NWS says the Salt Fork Arkansas River is cresting and will begin falling Wednesday afternoon. The Salt Fork Arkansas River will fall below flood stage Saturday evening.

At 27.0 feet, flood depths ranging up to about 10 feet move from eastern Grant County across Kay County to the confluence with the Arkansas River below Ponca City. Private levees may be overtopped and farmland and oilfields are flooded hours before the crest.

Road closures include Interstate Highway I-35 in the vicinity of the river; Fountain Road at U.S. Highway 77 south of Tonkawa, and State Highway 156 between Marland and Ponca City.