Oklahoma City flooding: Scary videos emerge; Interstate 35, other areas under alert amid power outages
'Heavy rain could lead to flooding of low-lying areas, rivers/creeks and roadways. Be prepared for possible flooding this weekend,' the alert stated.
A warning was issued in several areas, including Oklahoma City, Edmond, Bethany, Yukon, and Mustang. Videos shared on social media captured submerged roads and stranded vehicles, with Interstate 35 and other areas under alert amid widespread power outages.
Oklahoma City flood alert
On Saturday, thunderstorms brought heavy rain to central Oklahoma, triggering a Flash Flood Warning for Oklahoma County, southeastern Canadian County, and southeastern Logan County, effective until late Saturday.
Interstate 35 Impact
While no specific closures of I-35 were reported, the highway is likely to be affected by the floods, local media reports stated.
Power Outages
OG&E reported over 2,641 outages in the Oklahoma City metro at the time of writing this story. These outages were primarily in eastern Oklahoma.
Areas impacted by flooding
NWS stated that some locations that will experience flooding include Oklahoma City, Edmond, Yukon, Bethany, Warr Acres, The Village, Nichols Hills, Arcadia, Forest Park, Woodlawn Park, Lake Aluma, The Capitol, The Fairgrounds, Downtown Edmond, and Wiley Post Airport.
'At 657 PM CDT, emergency management reported heavy rain in the warned area due to thunderstorms has led to multiple roadways closed from Edmond to Yukon. Flooding is ongoing. Between 2 and 5 inches of rain have fallen,' the agency further added in its latest alert.
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First Post
7 hours ago
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Why Russia earthquake set off tsunami alerts across US
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Around 90 per cent of all earthquakes occur here. The region is home to around 75 per cent of all active volcanoes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But hours after the earthquake, thousands of kilometres away, tsunami waves began hitting Hawaii. Alerts also sounded for Alaska and other parts of the United States. But how did the quake in Russia put the US on alert? What parts of US have been hit? What's the damage? Let's take a closer look: Why quake in Russia put US on alert The earthquake struck the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia's far east on Wednesday morning. It was approximately 11.24 am. But when the waves hit Hawaii thousands of kilometres away it was still Tuesday. So, how did this happen? Because the waves, in a sense, travelled back in time. They did so because they crossed the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean. But what explains how the waves made it across the world? This is chalked up to the sheer power of the quake. This tremor was the most powerful since the 2011 one in Fukushima, when a 9.1-magnitude tremor left 18,000 dead and caused a meltdown in a nuclear reactor. Experts say such quakes occur just once a year on average. We also need to understand how the quake occurred. The Earth's crust comprises pieces called tectonic plates that are joined together. They drift atop hot, melted rock. The areas where the plates slide under each other are called subduction zones. The Ring of Fire, as noted, sees most of the world's earthquakes occur. This is because of the movements of tectonic plates. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to scientists, subduction zones can 'stick' for a long time, building up pressure. When the plates suddenly 'slip,' that pressure is released as an earthquake. The Kamchatka region in Russia is near two major subduction zones, where the Pacific Plate is sliding under the North American Plate. Tsunami waves flood an area after a powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off Russia's far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula, in Severo-Kurilsk, Sakhalin Region, Russia. Reuters This area is known for big earthquakes—one in 1952 reached magnitude 9.0. The recent earthquake likely involved a huge movement along the fault line—up to 320 to 480 kilometres long. It happened just 20 kilometres miles below the ocean floor. This shifted part of the seafloor upward, which in turn pushed a large amount of ocean water. Thus, a tsunami was born and began moving across the Pacific Ocean, heading toward the United States. Experts said the waves travelled to the United States between 500 and 800 kilometres per hour – the speed of a jet plane. However, these waves slowed down once they reached in shallow waters. Hawaii and the West Coast were affected because they sat directly across from the Kamchatka Peninsula. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The waves reached Hawaii at 7.10 pm local time – around six hours after the quake struck. Parts of Alaska and the West Coast were also put on tsunami watch. Which parts of the US have been hit? What's the damage? The waves hit parts of Hawaii, Alaska and the West Coast of the US**.** Authorities sounded evacuation warnings for Hawaii where a four-foot wave was seen off the island of Oahu, while a wave more than 5-feet high was witnessed in Maui's Kahului. Hawaii Country's Hilo witnessed a 4.5-foot tsunami wave, while Hanalei Guage recorded waves of up to 3.9 foot wave. Even Oprah got in the act with Maui County saying that she had opened up her private road to help citizens flee. 'Oprah's road is open to get Upcountry, according to Maui Police Department,' the county said. Hawaii Governor Josh Green had urged residents and tourists to stay calm and follow evacuation instructions, while the US Coast Guard shut key ports across the Hawaiian Islands. Thankfully, the tsunami warning was downgraded to an advisory level by around 11 pm. Flights have resumed at the Honolulu International Airport. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The evacuated have been advised to return to their homes. Washington state resident Poppy Mellon fills his car with jugs of water in preparation for the tsunami threat at the Kapolei Walmart, Hawaii, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (AP photo/Michelle Bir) Hawaii has witnessed no major injuries or damage. In Alaska, the communities of Amchitka and Adak witnessed waves of around 2.7 feet. Alaska Airlines also began delaying flights and rerouting those already in the air. The airline urged passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport. Alaska, like Hawaii, witnessed no significant damage or injuries. The tsunami reached the California coast around 3 am on Wednesday. A four feet, 4-inch wave was seen in Arena Cove. Crescent City, a coastal town around 30 kilometres from Oregon, witnessed a four-foot wave. The town of less than 7,000 residents has been hit nearly three dozen times by tsunami waves since 1933. A 1964 incident left 11 dead and nearly 30 city blocks ruined. A small part of the West Coast – from Cape Mendocino to the Oregon border – is under tsunami warning. This is the highest level of alert possible. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It means widespread flooding across the coast is likely or is already happening. Residents are advised to evacuate. Most of the West Coast including Los Angeles and San Francisco, Hawaii and Alaska coastline are now under tsunami advisory. This means that 'strong currents or waves dangerous to those in or very near the water' are possible. Here, residents are advised to stay away from beaches and waterways. With inputs from agencies
Indian Express
10 hours ago
- Indian Express
Hawaii to California: How often have tsunamis hit the US and how bad do they get
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News18
10 hours ago
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Russian authorities on Kamchatka peninsula, Kuril islands cancel tsunami warning
Tokyo, Jul 30 (AP) Russian authorities on the Kamchatka peninsula and the Kuril islands have cancelled a tsunami warning after a powerful earthquake struck nearby Wednesday. They say some risk remains. The regional branch of Russia's Emergency Ministry on Kamchatka warned that scientists expect aftershocks at magnitudes of up to 7.5. It said that more tsunamis are possible in the Avacha Bay, where the regional capital of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is located. (AP) GRS GRS Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
