Heavy rainfall from scattered thunderstorms is expected across the Southwest, Intermountain West, and Plains. Isolated dry thunderstorms may initiate additional fires across the west. The coastal Carolinas may experience flash floods in the coming days due to repeated thunderstorms. Additionally, a wave of intense summer heat will hit the Southern Plains and central Gulf Coast States this week. Read More >
Severe Storms and Flash Flooding Impact Northeast Kansas on Thu. June 16, 2010
On Wednesday thunderstorms formed near mid day in Clay, Geary, Riley, and Pottawatomie Counties. Excessive rainfall in the area was caused by many storms producing heavy rain passing over the same area. Heavy rain during the previous day caused the ground to become saturated. During the afternoon of June 16th nearly 2 more inches fell across this area in a short period of time causing flash flooding throughout the area. As the storm system moved eastward it continued to produce heavy rain. As it went through Topeka it dropped 2.31 inches of rain in one hour and an additional .45 inch the next hour for a total of 2.76 inches over the two hour span between 5 pm and 7 pm. By the time the rain stopped 2.78 inches of rain fell at Billard Airport which broke the one day record rainfall total for June 16th. The record was previously held by the year 1996. Many cars stalled in flooded streets in Topeka as the water rose. In Lawrence heavy rain caused significant flooding to streets and parks within the city. At one point the Buford M. Watson park at Tennessee St and 7th St. near downtown Lawrence was under eight feet of rushing water. Numerous water rescues were conducted throughout town as motorists became stranded by the quickly rising water. Aside from Topeka and Lawrence, the hardest hit areas from the deluge were portions of Pottawatomie and Riley Counties as heavy rain caused many roads to be closed.
Flooding was not the only type of hazardous weather to impact northeastern Kansas on Wednesday. Some of the storms responsible for the flash flooding also brought severe hail and wind to the area. Many reports of quarter sized hail were received by the National Weather Service office in Topeka, and a storm near Junction City brought golfball sized hail to that area around 2 PM. Strong, damaging winds associated with the storms also affected portions of Shawnee and Douglas Counties. The NWS in Topeka observed a 62 mph wind gust, and an automated weather station at Lawrence Municipal Airport reported a 58 mph wind gust. As a result of the strong winds many tree limbs up to 6 inches in diameter snapped off of trees in Topeka and Lawrence.
Click on the Above Image for a radar loop.
Below are images of flash flooding in Lawrence, provided by Douglas County Emergency Management. (Click on the photos to enlarge)
Click on the image for an interactive map of severe weather reports.
Local Storm Reports
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS.. 1222 PM HEAVY RAIN MILTONVALE 39.35N 97.45W 06/16/2010 E2.00 INCH CLOUD KS TRAINED SPOTTER RAIN FELL OVER PREVIOUS 30 MINUTES. WATER IS FILLING GUTTERS ALONG SIDE ROADS IN MILTONVALE. 1232 PM HEAVY RAIN RILEY 39.30N 96.83W 06/16/2010 E1.50 INCH RILEY KS FIRE DEPT/RESCUE RAIN FELL OVER PREVIOUS 45 MINUTES. MINOR STREET FLOODING WAS REPORTED IN RILEY. 0154 PM FLOOD MILFORD 39.17N 96.91W 06/16/2010 GEARY KS EMERGENCY MNGR TWO ROADS FLOODING NEAR THE NORTH END OF MILFORD LAKE. 0156 PM HAIL 4 NW JUNCTION CITY 39.07N 96.88W 06/16/2010 E1.00 INCH GEARY KS EMERGENCY MNGR ON THE DAM AT MILFORD LAKE. 0200 PM FLASH FLOOD KEATS 39.22N 96.71W 06/16/2010 RILEY KS EMERGENCY MNGR NUMEROUS ROADS REPORTED FLOODED BETWEEN MANHATTAN, KEATS AND OGDEN 0202 PM HAIL 1 WNW JUNCTION CITY 39.04N 96.85W 06/16/2010 E1.00 INCH GEARY KS TRAINED SPOTTER 0206 PM HAIL 5 N JUNCTION CITY 39.10N 96.83W 06/16/2010 E1.75 INCH RILEY KS TRAINED SPOTTER 0213 PM HAIL OGDEN 39.11N 96.71W 06/16/2010 E1.00 INCH RILEY KS EMERGENCY MNGR 0215 PM HAIL 5 N JUNCTION CITY 39.10N 96.83W 06/16/2010 E1.25 INCH RILEY KS TRAINED SPOTTER 0230 PM FLASH FLOOD 3 WNW ST. MARYS 39.21N 96.12W 06/16/2010 POTTAWATOMIE KS EMERGENCY MNGR FLASH FLOODING ALONG OREGON TRAIL ROAD WASHED TWO VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. TIME ESTIMATED. 0242 PM FLASH FLOOD 3 ENE JUNCTION CITY 39.05N 96.78W 06/16/2010 GEARY KS EMERGENCY MNGR 3 INCHES OF WATER COVERING THE WEST BOUND LANES OF 170. 0245 PM FLASH FLOOD KEATS 39.22N 96.71W 06/16/2010 RILEY KS EMERGENCY MNGR FT. RILEY BLVD ANDS WILDCAT CREEK NEAR MHK AIRPORT CLOSED AND ANDERSON AVE NEAR KEATS DUE TO WATER RUNNING OVER ROAD. 0300 PM FLASH FLOOD 10 NW WAMEGO 39.30N 96.44W 06/16/2010 POTTAWATOMIE KS EMERGENCY MNGR FLUSH ROAD CLOSED DUE TO FLASH FLOODING OF HOPKINS CREEK FLOWING OVER THE ROAD AROUND 8 INCHES DEEP. 0300 PM FLASH FLOOD 2 N BELVUE 39.25N 96.18W 06/16/2010 POTTAWATOMIE KS EMERGENCY MNGR ONAGA ROAD CLOSED DUE TO FLOOD WATERS ABOUT 8 TO 18 INCHES DEEP FLOWING OVER ROAD. ALSO ONAGA ROAD IS ALSO CLOSED 6-7 MILES NORTH OF BELVUE, AND 4 MILES SOUTH OF ONAGA WITH WATER FLOWING OVER THE ROADWAY. 0330 PM TSTM WND DMG WSW WILLARD 39.09N 95.94W 06/16/2010 WABAUNSEE KS TRAINED SPOTTER 3 INCH WALNUT LIMBS REPORTED DOWN 0355 PM TSTM WND GST 5 WSW TOPEKA 39.02N 95.76W 06/16/2010 E55.00 MPH SHAWNEE KS BROADCAST MEDIA WINDS ESTIMATED AT 50 TO 60 MPH. 0400 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 S TOPEKA 39.03N 95.68W 06/16/2010 SHAWNEE KS BROADCAST MEDIA TREE BRANCHES DOWN ON POWER LINES. TIME APPROXIMATED BASED ON RADAR DATA. 0412 PM TSTM WND GST TOPEKA 39.05N 95.68W 06/16/2010 M62.00 MPH SHAWNEE KS ASOS MEASURED AT BILLARD ARPT 0413 PM FLASH FLOOD 1 W MANHATTAN 39.18N 96.59W 06/16/2010 RILEY KS EMERGENCY MNGR RILEY COUNTY EM REPORTES PHOENIX DRIVE AND HIGHLAND RIDGE ROAD NEAR ANDERSON HAVE BEEN CLOSED DUE TO WATER RUNNING OVER THE ROAD FROM WILDCAT CREEK RISING OUT OF ITS BANKS. 0414 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 ENE TOPEKA 39.06N 95.63W 06/16/2010 SHAWNEE KS BROADCAST MEDIA LARGE TREE BLOWN DOWN IN THE 400 BLOCK OF STRAIT AVENUE. 0415 PM FLASH FLOOD 5 SW WAKEFIELD 39.16N 97.07W 06/16/2010 CLAY KS PUBLIC NUMEROUS COUNTY ROADS WERE FLOODED DUE TO MEASURED RAINFALL OF 2.30 INCHES IN APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 40 MINUTES. 0415 PM TSTM WND DMG TOPEKA 39.05N 95.68W 06/16/2010 SHAWNEE KS NWS EMPLOYEE 8 INCH TREE REPORTED DOWN ON SARDOU RD. 0415 PM HEAVY RAIN E DELIA 39.24N 95.96W 06/16/2010 M1.30 INCH JACKSON KS TRAINED SPOTTER RAINFALL IN THE PAST HOUR. 0415 PM TSTM WND GST MELVERN 38.51N 95.64W 06/16/2010 E60.00 MPH OSAGE KS TRAINED SPOTTER TIME ESTIMATED BY SPOTTER AND CONFIRMED BY RADAR. 0429 PM FLASH FLOOD 1 S ALMA 39.00N 96.29W 06/16/2010 WABAUNSEE KS LAW ENFORCEMENT 99HWY NAR MILE MARKER 156 CLOSED DUE TO WATER RUNNING OVER ROAD. 0435 PM TSTM WND GST 4 E CARBONDALE 38.82N 95.61W 06/16/2010 E65.00 MPH OSAGE KS NWS EMPLOYEE 0435 PM TSTM WND DMG ESE GRANTVILLE 39.08N 95.55W 06/16/2010 JEFFERSON KS TRAINED SPOTTER 2 FOOT DIAMETER TREE BLOWN DOWN. 0436 PM FLASH FLOOD TOPEKA 39.05N 95.68W 06/16/2010 SHAWNEE KS EMERGENCY MNGR EM REPORTS CARS DRIVING THROUGH FLOODED STREETS RESULTING IN WATER RESCUES. 6TH AND TYLER. 0436 PM HEAVY RAIN WILLARD 39.09N 95.94W 06/16/2010 M2.25 INCH SHAWNEE KS TRAINED SPOTTER MEASURED RAINFALL TOTAL FOR THE PAST HOUR. 0440 PM TSTM WND GST HARRIS 38.32N 95.44W 06/16/2010 E60.00 MPH ANDERSON KS EMERGENCY MNGR DIME SIZE HAIL WAS ALSO REPORTED IN HARRIS. 0457 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 1 SE EMPORIA 38.40N 96.17W 06/16/2010 LYON KS TRAINED SPOTTER FUNNEL CLOUD WITH STRONG ROTATION EXTENDED ALMOST HALF WAY TO THE GROUND BEFORE DISSIPATING. 0501 PM TSTM WND GST 4 SSE EMPORIA 38.36N 96.15W 06/16/2010 E60.00 MPH LYON KS TRAINED SPOTTER 0501 PM HEAVY RAIN 3 ESE TOPEKA 39.03N 95.63W 06/16/2010 M2.38 INCH SHAWNEE KS NWS EMPLOYEE RAINFALL TOTAL BETWEEN 4PM AND 5PM 0505 PM TSTM WND DMG LAWRENCE 38.97N 95.24W 06/16/2010 DOUGLAS KS PUBLIC LARGE TREE LIMB DOWN AT 1700 ILLINOIS. TIME OF EVENT APPROXIMATED. 0507 PM FLASH FLOOD LAWRENCE 38.97N 95.24W 06/16/2010 DOUGLAS KS TRAINED SPOTTER SPOTTER REPORTS WATER 2-3 INCHES DEEP OVER 6TH STREET BETWEEN IOWA AND CONGESSIONAL STREETS. 0511 PM TSTM WND GST 4 NE LAWRENCE 39.01N 95.21W 06/16/2010 M58.00 MPH DOUGLAS KS ASOS MEASURED AT ASOS 0515 PM TSTM WND DMG LAWRENCE 38.97N 95.24W 06/16/2010 DOUGLAS KS BROADCAST MEDIA POWER LINES REPORTED DOWN IN SEVERAL PLACES IN LAWRENCE 0517 PM TSTM WND GST 1 NW LAWRENCE 38.98N 95.25W 06/16/2010 M68.00 MPH DOUGLAS KS PUBLIC PUBLIC REPORT OF A PEAK MEASURED WIND GUST OF 68 MPH. 0518 PM HEAVY RAIN 2 W LAWRENCE 38.97N 95.27W 06/16/2010 M0.98 INCH DOUGLAS KS NWS EMPLOYEE OFF DUTY NWS EMPLOYEE REPORTS 0.98 INCHES OF RAIN IN 15 MINUTES. 0521 PM FLASH FLOOD LAWRENCE 38.97N 95.24W 06/16/2010 DOUGLAS KS EMERGENCY MNGR EM REPORTS FLOODING ON 23RD AND OUSDAHL RD, KEGENDS DR. TO BOB BILLINGS PKWY ON WAKARUSA, CONGESSIONAL TO WAKARUSA ON 6TH STEET. 0525 PM FLASH FLOOD TOPEKA 39.05N 95.68W 06/16/2010 SHAWNEE KS EMERGENCY MNGR SHAWNEE EM REPORTS SHUNGA CREEK OUT OF ITS BANKS AND FLOODING SHUNGA PARK. 0540 PM HEAVY RAIN TOPEKA 39.05N 95.68W 06/16/2010 M2.78 INCH SHAWNEE KS OFFICIAL NWS OBS 0540 PM FLASH FLOOD 2 E TOPEKA 39.05N 95.64W 06/16/2010 SHAWNEE KS EMERGENCY MNGR EM REPORTS TRAFFIC BEING DIVERTED DUE TO FLOODING OVER 2ND STREET DUE TO TECUMSEH CREEK EXCEEDING ITS BANKS. 0545 PM FLASH FLOOD 1 S LAWRENCE 38.96N 95.24W 06/16/2010 DOUGLAS KS EMERGENCY MNGR WATER RESCUES AT 23RD AND OUSDAHL AS WELL AS 31ST AND IOWA IN LAWRENCE. 0605 PM FLASH FLOOD LAWRENCE 38.97N 95.24W 06/16/2010 DOUGLAS KS EMERGENCY MNGR DRIVER WAITING ON ROOF OF CAR FOR RESCUE AT 23RD AND IOWA...WITH ANOTHER DRIVER AWAITING RESCUE ON CAR ROOF AT WITNERBROOK AND JORDAN. A THIRD WATER RESCUE TAKING PLACE AT 1900 NAISMITH. 0605 PM HEAVY RAIN 2 SW EUDORA 38.92N 95.12W 06/16/2010 M1.90 INCH DOUGLAS KS TRAINED SPOTTER STORM TOTAL RAINFALL BETWEEN APPROXIMATELY 4PM AND 6PM. 0615 PM FLASH FLOOD WILLIAMSTOWN 39.06N 95.33W 06/16/2010 JEFFERSON KS EMERGENCY MNGR 3RD AND 5TH STREETS ARE IMPASSABLE. 0630 PM HEAVY RAIN RICHMOND 38.40N 95.25W 06/16/2010 M2.00 INCH FRANKLIN KS PUBLIC 0630 PM FLASH FLOOD PRINCETON 38.49N 95.28W 06/16/2010 FRANKLIN KS EMERGENCY MNGR FLASH FLOODING IN THE GENERAL PRINCETON AREA. 0632 PM HEAVY RAIN ST. MARYS 39.19N 96.07W 06/16/2010 M2.45 INCH POTTAWATOMIE KS TRAINED SPOTTER 2.45 INCHES OF RAIN FELL THIS AFTERNOON 0702 PM HEAVY RAIN TOPEKA 39.05N 95.68W 06/16/2010 M3.09 INCH SHAWNEE KS OFFICIAL NWS OBS MEASURED IN 8 INCH RAIN GAUGE AT BILLARD ARPT. 0702 PM HEAVY RAIN LAWRENCE 38.97N 95.24W 06/16/2010 M2.34 INCH DOUGLAS KS ASOS 0745 PM FLASH FLOOD LAWRENCE 38.97N 95.24W 06/16/2010 DOUGLAS KS LAW ENFORCEMENT CREEKS AND STREAMS REMAIN OUT OF THEIR BANKS...PARTICULARLY IN RURAL AREAS OF DOUGLAS COUNTY.