A significant and life-threatening heavy rainfall event will unfold over eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas early this week.
A slow moving upper storm system will combine with well above average deep layer moisture for this time of year and a focusing frontal boundary to produce excessive rainfall. This band of heavy rainfall will begin over eastern Oklahoma Monday night and gradually shift east into western Arkansas through Tuesday night and possibly into Wednesday before ending Wednesday night.
The National Weather Service in Tulsa has issued a flash flood watch for the following areas: Craig, Mayes, Nowata, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Rogers, Tulsa, Wagoner and Washington Counties. It will be from Monday afternoon through Wednesday morning.
Widespread rainfall amounts from 4 to 8 inches are expected across a good portion of eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas. Some isolated areas could receive rainfall amounts between a foot and 15 inches. Widespread and potentially catastrophic areal flooding and river flooding is expected. However, the potential for life-threatening flash flooding is also high.