Storms Run Through Tulsa

Tulsa, Oklahoma -- Strong storms swept through Oklahoma on Monday. In Tulsa, the storm did not start out right away. In fact, the morning was actually quite pleasant and seemed to offer a day that was a continuation of the weekend-full of pleasant weather and full of sunshine. However, by noon, the heat of the day seemed to hold a stickier, more humid feeling to it. While the weather was still pleasantly sunny, the humidity factor in the air seemed to be increasing and no breeze in the air was present to counteract the increasing humidity. By 1:30 p.m., the weather had not changed significantly. The sun was still shining bravely and although the wind was increasing, no real signs of any sudden change in the weather was showing. However, by around 2:30 p.m. the sun was being swallowed by heavy storm clouds that were rushing across the skies, propelled by strong winds. The humidity at this point was even stronger than before, despite the warm breeze that was blowing the heavy air around.

Lightening began to flash across the Tulsa sky around this hour, followed by enormously loud claps of thunder. No rain was falling yet to complete the feeling of the storm, however. The lightening continued to flash across the sky, but it did not seem to be providing too much of a threat to any of the nature surrounding it. Finally, after the dark storm clouds continued to roll in, around 3:15 p.m. the rain began to pour down from heaven above. It was no slight sprinkling of rain; it was more of a torrential downpour that threatened to drown out all dry walkers beneath it, even those employing umbrellas.

This rain was accompanied by heavy winds which succeeded in doing some damage to the town of Tulsa, including the campus of Oral Roberts University. While the aerobics center (the gym) of the campus experienced a short period of a power outage with some of the lighting inside the building, other damage was more serious. Lightening struck and split a tree located near the baseball complex on the campus, leaving the tree effectively dead. The oldest of the working female dorms on campus also suffered damage, as one of the windows in the alcove portion of the sixth floor in this Claudius Roberts dormitory was blown out by the strong winds. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident.

Elsewhere in Tulsa, Oklahoma also witnessed the effects of the storm. The rain continued to pour down for most of the afternoon and into the evening, with only short spurts of relenting. The Arkansas River continued to refill its somewhat dry river banks and even the formerly small Fred Creek turned into a rushing waterway. Tulsa continues to be on severe storm watch and flood warnings for the evening.