Storm system dumps inches of rain across Oklahoma on Friday
A storm system predicted to dump inches of rain delivered Friday, with some parts of the state receiving more than 11 inches in less than 12 hours.
Heavy rains began Friday morning across much of the state and continued to unload throughout the day. Parts of central and southcentral Oklahoma were under flash flood warnings for hours as streets began to flood by early afternoon.
U.S. 377 between State Highway 7 and State Highway 3, near Fittstown, was shut down by flood waters Friday, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation reported. Hardest hit by the storm as of Friday afternoon, Fittstown had received more than 11.5 inches of rain, according to the Oklahoma Mesonet weather network.
In Murray County, U.S. 77 from State Highway 7 to Primrose Lane in Davis also was shut down because of flood waters. More than 5 inches of rain had fallen in the nearby town of Sulphur as of 3:45 p.m. Friday.
Flood waters also shut down roads throughout Oklahoma County, where rainfalltotalshoveredabout 2 inches by early afternoon. A section of Memorial Road near Hiwassee Road was closed after a large sinkhole formed as a result of a drainage pipe washout.
Another sinkhole shut down SW 25 and Walker Avenue, and May Avenue from SW 23 to SW 24 was closed as a result of flood waters, city officials reported.
Oklahoma City Fire Department officials said they had only responded to one water rescue call by Friday afternoon and there were few wrecks along city roads.
Rain could continue for the Oklahoma City metro area throughout the weekend, with a 40 percent of showers forecast for Saturday, mainly before noon, and lower chances of rain through Sunday night, according to the weather service.