TULSA, Okla. – A soggy start to the week is unfolding across eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas as heavy rain and thunderstorms push through the region Monday, creating a flash flood risk along portions of Interstate 40. Drivers could face reduced visibility, ponding water and dangerous lightning through the morning commute.
According to the National Weather Service in Tulsa, rainfall will spread north to south through Monday evening, with isolated thunderstorms possible. While most storms will remain below severe thresholds, localized flash flooding could develop, particularly in low-lying and urban areas. Temperatures will remain unseasonably cool, hovering near 70 degrees across Tulsa and cooler near the Red River.
Communities from Fort Smith, Arkansas, west to Muskogee and McAlester, Oklahoma, should prepare for heavy downpours that may cause slowdowns on Highways 69, 75 and the Turner Turnpike. Outdoor activities should be postponed where thunder is heard. Residents are urged to charge devices, avoid driving into flooded roadways, and monitor for additional watches or warnings.
Daily storm chances continue through Friday, with heavier rounds of rain expected Wednesday into Thursday as another front lifts into the region. Severe weather is not anticipated this week, but lightning and localized flooding remain ongoing concerns.
Five Day Forecast for Tulsa, OK
- Monday: Showers and thunderstorms, some heavy. High near 69.
- Tuesday: Chance of showers, high near 77.
- Wednesday: Showers likely, isolated storms. High near 76.
- Thursday: Showers and storms, cooler. High near 73.
- Friday: More scattered showers possible. High near 72.
