Severe Thunderstorm Warning 174, NWS Kansas City, MO

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
227 PM CDT Thu Jul 24 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

* Dangerous flash flooding possible tonight from eastern KS into
  western and northern MO. This includes the KC Metro area.
    - There is potential for extreme rainfall amounts of 9-12".
    - Exact location is uncertain but most likely from eastern KS into
      western MO.

* Flooding potential continues Friday afternoon - Saturday Morning,
  mainly for northern Missouri.

* Hot and humid conditions return Saturday and Sunday, then persist
  through the middle of the next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 227 PM CDT Thu Jul 24 2025

This afternoon - Friday Morning:

Ingredients are coming together for dangerous flash flooding from
eastern KS into western and northern MO. First, precipitable water
values are extremely high. Available guidance shows precipitable
water values ranging from roughly 2.25" to 2.5" at 00Z tonight
into the overnight. When comparing those values for eastern KS
and western MO to the climatology for 7/25 00Z TOP sounding,
that would break the daily record and be in the top 20 for
recorded values. For perspective, the return interval for this
type of moisture for this time of year, based NAEFS climate
period of 1979 to 2009, is every 5 to 10 years. The GEFS return
interval, which uses a later interval is closer to every 5
years. So this is abnormally high moisture content for this time
of year for this area. Second, moderate to strong moisture
transport will develop tonight as the low-level jet strengthens.
Models show moisture transport magnitudes of 200-225 gm/kgs
into eastern KS and western MO. This moisture transport
intersects the third ingredient, a stalled boundary that will
be in the area. That boundary will act as a focus for storm
development and is responsible for most of the uncertainty with
this forecast. The location of this boundary will likely be in
the vicinity of of the Highway 50 to Highway 36 during the
height of the event, but may drift northward with the
strengthening low-level jet. Given this likely location, that
corridor has what looks like the greatest potential for
dangerous flash flooding. Model QPF is varying greatly with this
event, both in location and amount. But some of the highest
guidance (Canadian and 3km NAM) show 9-12". The Canadian on the
southern side of the KC area and the 3km NAM on northeast side
of the KC area. These models are the worst case scenario for
rainfall amounts given the setup, but also can't be completely
ignored either. Other models cut this amount in half and remain
scattered with their placement. Still, putting 2-5" of rain
through the KC area, given very low flash flood guidance values
from several recent heavy rain/ flash flood events, will cause
excessive runoff and flooding to occur. A moderate risk for
excessive rain has been placed over the area as result of these
antecedent conditions and the good potential for heavy rainfall
in the area from this afternoon through tomorrow morning.

Friday afternoon - Saturday:

The overall pattern tends to shift northward Friday afternoon into
Saturday. Though there remains some guidance that hangs the
initiating boundary south and as a result places additional
storms and heavy rain further south. This can't be completely
ruled, especially if boundaries don't lift northward as most
guidance suggest. However, most guidance shifts the threat of
heavy rain across northern MO and points northward so have
placed higher PoPs and QPF further north as well. The pattern
still shows high precipitable water values, strong moisture
transport into the area and convergence along a boundary
somewhere from northern MO, likely north of Highway 36, into
southern IA.

This northward shift of the threat adds some potential for the need
for heat headlines in our south tomorrow. Based on my current
forecast heat index values of 100 to 104, lower confidence in that
even occurring, and that we've had several days of heat in those
areas, would like to stick closer to criteria and have more
confidence for that part of the forecast. So will only keep the
advisory going through 7 tonight and not extend it into Friday.
Saturday may be a different story as low-level flow becomes
more southwesterly, allowing temperatures to climb back into the
low 90s along and south of the Missouri River. Forecast max
heat index values are around 105 to 107 in this area. So heat
headlines may be needed with later forecasts.

Sunday and Beyond:

Saturday looks like just a precursor for the heat that arrives next
week. Models show upper-level ridging expanding northward into the
region with 598 dam 500mb high sitting just to our south. This will
lead to very hot temperatures across the forecast area with highs
likely in the mid to upper 90s, which is about 5-10 degrees above
normal for this time of year. Factor in the humidity, with daily
afternoon dewpoints in the mid to upper 70s, and we'll likely see
heat index values in the 105 to 110 range from Sunday through
Tuesday and possibly into Wednesday. Heat headlines will be needed
at some point to address this growing potential for dangerous heat.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 1236 PM CDT Thu Jul 24 2025

VFR conditions starting the TAF period. Scattered showers
stretching from eastern KS to northwestern MO continue to track
to the northeast mainly north of all terminals. Additional
chances for scattered to widespread thunderstorms this afternoon
into the night. Thunderstorms could begin to train in the
evening resulting in extended periods of thunderstorms into the
night.

&&

.EAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MO...Flood Watch through late Friday night for MOZ001>008-011>017-
     020.
     Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for MOZ039-040-
     043>046-053-054.
     Flood Watch through Friday morning for MOZ021>025-028>033-
     037>040-043>046.
KS...Flood Watch through late Friday night for KSZ025-102.
     Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for KSZ057-060.
     Flood Watch through Friday morning for KSZ057-103>105.

&&

DISCUSSION...CDB
AVIATION...Collier

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
0505 AM CDT Thu Jul 24 2025

KSZ025-057-060-102>105-MOZ001>008-011>017-020>025-028>033-037>040-
043>046-053-054-251005-
Atchison KS-Miami-Linn KS-Doniphan-Leavenworth-Wyandotte-Johnson KS-
Atchison MO-Nodaway-Worth-Gentry-Harrison-Mercer-Putnam-Schuyler-
Holt-Andrew-De Kalb-Daviess-Grundy-Sullivan-Adair-Buchanan-Clinton-
Caldwell-Livingston-Linn MO-Macon-Platte-Clay-Ray-Carroll-Chariton-
Randolph-Jackson-Lafayette-Saline-Howard-Cass-Johnson MO-Pettis-
Cooper-Bates-Henry-
0505 AM CDT Thu Jul 24 2025

This hazardous weather outlook is for northwest...north central and
west central Missouri...as well as extreme eastern Kansas.

.DAY ONE...Through tonight.

Please go to https://weather.gov/media/eax/DssPacket.pdf for more information on
potential weather hazards.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Please go to https://weather.gov/media/eax/DssPacket.pdf for more information on
potential weather hazards.

.KEY MESSAGES...

* Front has worked into northwest Missouri and will continue to be
  the focus for heavy rainfall later today.  Flood watch is in
  effect for much of eastern Kansas into north-central Missouri
  tonight into Friday morning, and northern Missouri Friday into
  Friday night.  Scattered-numerous flash flood events are expected,
  with the potential for significant flooding tonight and then again
  Friday night.

* Advisory heat continues today south of the boundary with heat
  indicies of 100-105F Heat builds back region-wide Saturday and
  continues into early next week.