Floods claim one life in Lawton as severe storms sweep through Oklahoma

Heavy rains and deadly flooding struck Oklahoma on Saturday, April 26, leading to multiple road closures and localized damage as storms moved through the region.

The Lawton Police Department (LPD) reported one fatality after a person drove into standing water near 2nd Street and F Avenue in Lawton, one of the worst-hit areas. Authorities were unable to reach the vehicle in time, and an LPD dive team later recovered the victim.

Rainfall totals between 51 and 102 mm (2 to 4 inches) were reported across Oklahoma, submerging roads and causing multiple rivers to reach Action and Minor flood stages.

The rain reports are preliminary and awaiting verification by the National Weather Service (NWS). While heavy rainfall was the main impact in Lawton, strong winds exceeding 95 km/h (60 mph) and hail were reported in other parts of Oklahoma.

Videos shared on social media showed vehicles being washed off the roads in Lawton, one of the hardest-hit areas. Floodwaters entered homes and businesses across the region. Some areas reported over 90 to 120 cm (3 to 4 feet) of standing water on roads.

Voluntary evacuation orders were issued by the local authorities across the region, including Turtle Creek and Garden Village. The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge was also closed through Saturday due to the flooding.

The veterinary office on SW Park Avenue was flooded, trapping three people, three dogs, and two cats inside—one of the victims posted on social media, requesting rescue assistance.

Local authorities reported conducting multiple water rescues using boats throughout the day on Saturday. It is worth noting that the constant barrage of severe weather that has been impacting the central U.S. for the last few weeks has left the soil saturated, making the region susceptible to severe flooding even with lower rainfall totals.

Multiple key routes, including Interstate 44 (I-44), were closed due to flooding that submerged roads. The eastbound and westbound lanes of I-44 were closed between State Highway 49 (SH-49) and U.S. Route 62 (US-62) near Lawton.

Multiple vehicles were stalled during the severe weather, and a truck reportedly jackknifed on I-44. It remains unclear whether the crash was directly caused by the weather. Authorities advised citizens to avoid travel during flooding and seek alternative routes.

Multiple flood and tornado warnings were issued across the state through Saturday as the storms passed over the region. The threat of severe weather ended later in the evening, reported the National Weather Service (NWS) at 19:25 local time (LT).

The I-44 was opened later in the evening as the floodwaters subsided. Not all routes saw the same relief, with the northbound and southbound SH-5B being closed off south of Walters between SH-5A and US-70 through Saturday night.

The severe weather also affected parts of Texas, with reports of river flooding in the northern part of the state. The severe weather system has moved out of the region and is forecast to move into the Northern High Plains, bringing a severe weather threat to Montana and the Dakotas through Sunday, April 27.

References:

¹ Short Range Forecast Discussion – NWS/WPC – April 26, 2025

Rishav Kothari

I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.

• Rishav Kothari

  Strong winds derail train near Monmouth as three EF-1 tornadoes hit Illinois and Iowa
• Rishav Kothari

  SPC issues Enhanced Risk for severe thunderstorms across portions of the Central Plains
• Rishav Kothari

  One dead as flooding from Arthur’s remnants damages dams, forces evacuations, Mississippi
• Rishav Kothari

  40-year solar record reveals solar-cycle changes beneath the Sun’s surface