Lightning Creek is a waterway in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...

. Much of the city's Southside lies within its watershed. It is a tributary of the Oklahoma River.

The stream begins as a drainage canal near S.W. 86th St. and Villa Ave. The creek flows generally north, draining into the Oklahoma River near S.E. 15th St. and Santa Fe. Several city parks are located along the stream, including Lightning Creek Park where the creek crosses under Western Ave., Draper Park between S.W. 44th St. and Grand Blvd., and Oliver Park between Grand Blvd. and S.W. 29th St.

The Lightning Creek basin experienced major flash flood

Flash flood

A flash flood is a rapid flooding of geomorphic low-lying areas—washes, rivers, dry lakes and basins. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a storm, hurricane, or tropical storm or meltwater from ice or snow flowing over ice sheets or snowfields...

ing beginning on July 6, 2010, and continuing through July 8, as a result of the remnants of Hurricane Alex. On July 6, 13-year-old Gerardo Canales was playing near the creek and was swept away by the flood. His body was found 2 miles (3.2 km) from where he entered the creek.