Alert archive / Kansas / Flash Flood Warnings in 2021

Flash Flood Warning 2, NWS Topeka, KS

May 16, 2021Ottawa County, Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this flash flood warning at May 16, 2021, 2:31 AM CDT for Ottawa County, Kansas. It was in force for 6 hr. 6 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
May 16, 2021, 2:31 AM CDT (07:31 UTC)
Expired
May 16, 2021, 8:30 AM CDT
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS Topeka, KS
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Ottawa County, KS

The radar

The Topeka radar (KTWX), 127 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:35 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 16, 2:31 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 4.31Tescott, KSPERSONAL WEATHER STATION TOTAL SINCE MIDNIGHT.
May 16, 4:23 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 6.71Bennington, KSPERSONAL WEATHER STATION. TOTAL SINCE MIDNIGHT. RAIN STILL FALLING.
May 16, 6:05 AM CDTFLASH FLOOD2 Nnw Bennington, KSINTERSECTION OF 170TH ROAD AND GRANITE ROAD FLOODED.
May 16, 6:13 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 8.02Bennington, KSPERSONAL WEATHER STATION. TOTAL RAINFALL SINCE MIDNIGHT.
May 16, 6:14 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 6.07Tescott, KSPERSONAL WEATHER STATION. TOTAL RAINFALL SINCE MIDNIGHT.
May 16, 7:18 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 3.55Culver, KSCO-OP OBSERVER STATION CULK1 CULVER.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 00:00Z, 7.5 hours before the alert went out and 179 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Topeka, KS at 00:00Z on 2021-05-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Topeka, KS at 00:00Z on 2021-05-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -5 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1137 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-5 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
73 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

405 
WGUS53 KTOP 160731
FFWTOP
KSC143-161130-
/O.NEW.KTOP.FF.W.0002.210516T0731Z-210516T1130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Topeka KS
231 AM CDT Sun May 16 2021

The National Weather Service in Topeka has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Southern Ottawa County in north central Kansas...

* Until 630 AM CDT.

* At 229 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 4.5 inches of 
  rain have fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin 
  shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Doppler radar.

  IMPACT...Flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
           highways, streets and underpasses as well as other
           drainage and low lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Bennington, Tescott, Culver and Niles.

At 230 AM, rainfall of 4.2 inches was measured by a personal weather 
station in Tescott since midnight. Additional rainfall amounts of 
0.5 to 2 inches are possible in the warned area.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood 
deaths occur in vehicles.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the 
dangers of flooding.

&&

LAT...LON 3909 9793 3906 9737 3896 9737 3896 9793

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$
3 follow-up statements
384 
WGUS73 KTOP 160926
FFSTOP

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
426 AM CDT Sun May 16 2021

KSC143-161130-
/O.CON.KTOP.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-210516T1130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Ottawa KS-
426 AM CDT Sun May 16 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 AM CDT THIS 
MORNING FOR SOUTHERN OTTAWA COUNTY...

At 424 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy 
rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 6.5 inches of rain have 
fallen. 6.71 inches had fallen in Bennington as of 422 AM. Flash 
flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Doppler radar.

IMPACT...Flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
         highways, streets and underpasses as well as other
         drainage and low lying areas.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Bennington, Tescott, Culver and Niles.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move to higher ground now. Act quickly to protect your life.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the 
dangers of flooding.

&&

LAT...LON 3909 9793 3906 9737 3896 9737 3896 9793

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$
454 
WGUS53 KTOP 161121
FFWTOP
KSC143-161330-
/O.EXT.KTOP.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-210516T1330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Topeka KS
621 AM CDT Sun May 16 2021

The National Weather Service in Topeka has extended the

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Southern Ottawa County in north central Kansas...

* Until 830 AM CDT.

* At 618 AM CDT, local law enforcement reported thunderstorms 
  producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 8 
  inches of rain have fallen. At 614 AM, a personal weather station 
  measured 8.02 inches of rain since midnight. At 605 AM, law 
  enforcement report flash flooding a the intersection of 170th Road 
  and Granite Road.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Law enforcement.

  IMPACT...Flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
           highways, streets and underpasses as well as other
           drainage and low lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Bennington, Tescott, Culver and Niles.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood 
deaths occur in vehicles.

Stay away or be swept away. River banks and culverts can become 
unstable and unsafe.

&&

LAT...LON 3909 9793 3906 9737 3896 9737 3896 9793

FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED

$$
609 
WGUS73 KTOP 161323
FFSTOP

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
823 AM CDT Sun May 16 2021

KSC143-161333-
/O.EXP.KTOP.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-210516T1330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Ottawa KS-
823 AM CDT Sun May 16 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 830 AM CDT THIS MORNING FOR 
SOUTHERN OTTAWA COUNTY...

The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a 
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.

LAT...LON 3909 9793 3906 9737 3896 9737 3896 9793

$$

Gargan

The office that day

Everything else NWS Topeka, KS issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 16, 12:26 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPDickinson34 min
May 16, 12:35 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPOttawa25 min
May 16, 1:05 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPLyon25 min
May 16, 1:08 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPDickinson37 min
May 16, 1:36 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryTOPOttawa3 hr
May 16, 7:11 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryTOPGeary, Wabaunsee3 hr
May 16, 7:15 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryTOPLyon3 hr
May 16, 8:38 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningTOPOttawa9 hr
May 16, 8:55 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryTOPLyon3 hr
May 16, 9:06 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryTOPOsage, Shawnee, Wabaunsee3 hr
May 16, 9:31 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningTOPOsage28 hr
May 16, 9:31 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningTOPLyon, Osage28 hr
May 16, 9:43 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryTOPDouglas, Franklin3 hr
May 16, 10:14 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningTOPGeary, Lyon, Morris, Wabaunsee4 hr
May 16, 10:18 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningTOPFranklin, Osage46 hr
May 16, 11:21 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningTOPFranklin62 hr
May 16, 11:38 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningTOPWabaunsee16 hr
May 16, 11:59 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningTOPOttawa, Saline3 days
May 16, 12:02 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryTOPShawnee, Wabaunsee3 hr
May 16, 1:32 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPLyon28 min
May 16, 2:07 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningTOPGeary, Lyon, Morris, Wabaunsee10 hr
May 16, 2:41 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPLyon34 min
May 16, 3:14 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningTOPDickinson, Ottawa, Saline16 hr
May 16, 3:24 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPOsage36 min
May 16, 3:46 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPOsage29 min
May 16, 4:18 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPFranklin27 min
May 16, 4:22 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningTOPCloud2 hr
May 16, 5:33 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryTOPAnderson, Coffey, Franklin, Lyon, Morris, Osage2 hr
May 16, 6:20 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPFranklin25 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Kansas, 2021Every flash flood warning in 2021

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.