Excessive heavy rainfall during the month of May resulted in very high river levels on the Red River as well as new pool stage records on Pine Creek Lake and Broken Bow Lake in McCurtain County, Oklahoma.

Flood in MCCURTAIN, OKLAHOMA
From 06-MAY-15 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-15 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: FARMERS HILL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Excessive heavy rainfall during the month of May resulted in very high water on the Red River bordering McCurtain County in Southeast Oklahoma and Red River and Bowie Counties in Northeast Texas.  Rainfall amounts during the month of May across the Upper and Middle Red River basins of Southern Oklahoma and Northern Texas totaled over 20 inches of rain. The Oklahoma state climatologist reported that May of 2015 was the all time wettest month of any month in state history.  This excessive heavy rainfall resulted in Red River levels that eclipsed the flood of May of 1990 at Pecan Point and was just shy of the Red River flood of May of 1908 at Pecan Point.  The river did not crest at Pecan Point north of Dekalb, Texas until the first week of June of 2015 so final crest information will be included in the June, 2015 Storm Data report.  The Red River at Pecan Point north of Dekalb, Texas went above the 24 foot flood stage on May 10th, 2015 and remained above that flood stage at the end of the month.  The Red River at Pecan Point north of Dekalb, Texas went above the 30 foot major flood stage on May 24th and remained above that major flood stage at the end of the month.  Thousands of acres of pasture and and farm land were flooded and livestock had to be evacuated.  Bank erosion was extreme on the McCurtain County side of the Red River as well as the Red River and Bowie County sides of the river. The United States Highway 259 bridge going over the Red River was closed and while the Highway 37 bridge between Clarksville, Texas and Idabel, Oklahoma was threatened, it was not closed.

Flood in MCCURTAIN, OKLAHOMA
From 05-MAY-15 12:00:00 to 31-MAY-15 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: SHERWOOD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Excessive heavy rainfall during the month of May resulted in very high water in the Mountain Fork Little River Basin which feeds the Red River flood control reservoir know as Broken Bow Lake in McCurtain County, Oklahoma.  The lake remained very high throughout almost the entire month of May, 2015 and the lake set an all time pool stage record of 628.74 feet at 5 pm on May 25th, 2015.
A major flood developed on the Mountain Fork River on May 25th.  As Broken Bow Lake reached the top of the flood control pool stage at 627.50 feet during the evening of May 24th, releases were rapidly ramped up to 28,000 CFS to lower the reservoir during the 25th.  Very rapid rises developed on the Mountain Fork Little River below the Broken Bow Lake Dam.  The gauging station west of Eagletown, Oklahoma was damaged early in the event so only high water mark data was available for a crest value on the river.  Based on the rating curve, the Mountain Fork probably crested near 15 feet at the Eagletown gauging station, a crest not seen since before the completion and operation of the Broken Bow Dam in October of 1968.  Major flooding continued on the lower Mountain Fork Little River during Memorial Day and May 26th, 2015 with stages not seen in over 50 years.  A cabin housing ten adults and three children on vacation was completely cut off by the high water along with high water approaching the cabin.  The McCurtain County Sheriff's Office attempted to reach the vacationers with a jet boat three times but the swift current prevented a boat rescue.  After the third boat rescue attempt, law enforcement brought in a helicopter from the Oklahoma National Guard and the cabin's occupants were airlifted from the cabin.
The lower Mountain Fork Little River flooding resulted in extensive damage to the Beaver Bend State Park, a nationally known vacation and nature area.  Oklahoma Hwy. 259A was completely scoured down to the rock by eroding away the pavement and underlying base roadbed.  The bridge, while not destroyed, required extensive rehabilitation.  The marina located on the lake suffered damage from the high pool stage as well.

Flood in MCCURTAIN, OKLAHOMA
From 05-MAY-15 12:00:00 to 31-MAY-15 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: RINGOLD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Excessive heavy rainfall during the month of May resulted in very high water in the  Little River Basin which feeds the Red River flood control reservoir know as Pine Creek Lake in McCurtain County, Oklahoma. The lake remained very high throughout almost the entire month of May, 2015 and the lake set an all time pool stage record of 480.76 feet at 8 pm on May 30th, 2015.