Man Believed Drowned as Storms Flood Oklahoma, Arkansas

The man’s body had not been found Tuesday afternoon, but he is not believed to have survived, said District Fire Chief Benny Fulkerson.

The man was last seen shortly after 11:30 p.m. Monday standing atop his vehicle, which was later found submerged, Fulkerson said.

More than 6 inches of rain fell in the area between 7 p.m. and 1 a.m., said National Weather Service meteorologist John Pike in Norman.

Up to 8 inches (20 centimeters) of rain fell in isolated areas of southeastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas and high water rescues were required in LeFlore County, Oklahoma, and Sebastian County, Arkansas, National Weather Service meteorologist Joe Sellers said.

In western Arkansas, forecasters warned of dangerous flash flooding later Tuesday and Wednesday as heavy rainfall was predicted in areas with already saturated ground.

The storms also led to tornado warnings in parts of central Arkansas on Tuesday afternoon, but no damage was immediately reported.

PHOTO, BELOW: Oklahoma City firefighters search Ski Island Lake for a driver, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020, that was possibly caught in floodwaters in Oklahoma City. Firefighters were searching the area after a car was found in floodwaters on South Shore Drive. (Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman via AP)