Published: September 02, 2008 09:42 am      

Gustav may bring rain, flash floods

Remnants of Gustav, now downgraded to a tropical depression, are forecast to move into the McAlester area this afternoon and tonight, bringing the possibility of flash flooding.

“A flood watch starts this evening and continues through Friday morning,” said Meteorologist David Jankowski at the National Weather Service office in Tulsa.

“Flash flooding is possible in the heavier rain bands,” he said.

Rainfall of from five to nine inches is possible in some areas, according to the NWS.

“Today, the main threat should be rain,” with the threat of isloated tornadoes also possible in parts of Southeastern Oklahoma.

The threat of an isolated tornado is greatest in the eastern part of Pushmataha County, parts of LeFlore County and Choctaw County, according to Jankowski.

Most of the rain hitting the McAlester area is associated with what’s left of Gustav, Jankowski said. A cold front is also moving into Oklahoma from the northwest.

Rainfall forecasts for today ranged from 1/2 to one inch of rain in northern Pittsburg County to from one-to-two inches south of McAlester.

“On Wednesday, all of Pittsburg County is in the one-to-two inch range,” Jankowski said. However, the heavier bands could drop more rainfall in parts of the McAlester area.

North winds during the flood watch period are forecast to range from 15 to 20 miles per hour, with gusts up to 30 mph.

In addition to the rain forecast in the McAlester area, rainfall of from six to 12 inches is also being forecast for parts of southern Arkansas and Northeastern Texas.