Ripley, Oklahoma – Flooding could begin Sunday morning along the Cimarron River near Ripley, threatening low-lying farmland and oil wells in Payne County.
According to the National Weather Service in Tulsa, a Flood Watch remains in effect from early Sunday through Sunday afternoon, as the river may crest above its 17-foot flood stage. As of 1 a.m. Friday, the Cimarron stood at 12.7 feet and is forecast to rise due to upstream rainfall.
If the river reaches flood stage, areas within the Cimarron River valley will see water briefly cover fields and isolate oil sites and agricultural land near cutoff channels. These impacts could disrupt local operations and limit access in rural sections near Ripley.
Residents in Payne County are urged to monitor river levels and prepare to move equipment or livestock away from vulnerable areas. Those living along the river should be ready to act quickly if flood warnings are upgraded.
The flood watch is scheduled to expire early Sunday afternoon, but additional alerts may follow depending on rainfall totals upstream and observed river response.
