Alert archive / Kansas / Flash Flood Warnings in 2025

Flash Flood Warning 17, NWS Wichita, KS

July 21, 2025McPherson County, Saline County, Kansas

NWS Wichita, KS issued this flash flood warning at Jul 21, 2025, 8:58 PM CDT for McPherson County, Saline County, Kansas. It was in force for 4 hr. 2 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: Jul 21, 2025, 8:58 PM CDT (01:58 UTC)
Expired: Jul 22, 2025, 12:38 AM CDT
In force: 4 hr
Issued by: NWS Wichita, KS
Area: Storm-based polygon
Damage threat: Considerable
Flood severity: None

Counties McPherson County, KS, Saline County, KS

The radar

The Wichita radar (KICT), 115 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:58 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Jul 21, 9:28 PM CDT	RAIN 7	3 E Brookville, KS	Rain is continuing to fall.
Jul 21, 9:32 PM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	3 E Brookville, KS	Delayed report. Numerous rural roads flooded near Brookville and across western Saline county.

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

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this flash flood warning; the first came 34 minutes after it went out.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 00:00Z, 2.0 hours before the alert went out and 197 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 100 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -287 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1798 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 17 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 21 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 157 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

150 
WGUS53 KICT 220158
FFWICT
KSC113-169-220700-
/O.NEW.KICT.FF.W.0017.250722T0158Z-250722T0700Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Wichita KS
858 PM CDT Mon Jul 21 2025

The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Northwestern McPherson County in central Kansas...
  Western Saline County in central Kansas...

* Until 200 AM CDT.

* At 858 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated slow moving thunderstorms 
  producing very heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 3 
  inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 
  inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing 
  or expected to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms
           producing flash flooding.

  SOURCE...Radar.

  IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams,
           urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Salina, Lindsborg, Marquette, Brookville, Smolan, Falun and Salina 
  Airport.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Do not drive into flooded areas or go around barricades. Nearly two 
feet of water will carry most vehicles away. Turn around, don't 
drown.

&&

LAT...LON 3862 9792 3865 9792 3870 9793 3880 9793
      3880 9774 3889 9771 3888 9765 3850 9765
      3847 9792 3849 9792 3851 9792 3852 9792
      3855 9792 3857 9792 3860 9792 3861 9792

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE

$$

Jakub

2 follow-up statements

677 
WGUS73 KICT 220410
FFSICT

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
1110 PM CDT Mon Jul 21 2025

KSC113-169-220700-
/O.CON.KICT.FF.W.0017.000000T0000Z-250722T0700Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
McPherson KS-Saline KS-
1110 PM CDT Mon Jul 21 2025

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM CDT TUESDAY FOR 
NORTHWESTERN MCPHERSON AND WESTERN SALINE COUNTIES...

At 1110 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated between 4 and 7 inches of 
rain had fallen  across the warned area. Additional rainfall amounts 
up to 1 inch is possible. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to 
begin shortly due to the excessive runoff from earlier slow moving 
thunderstorms.

HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding from excessive runoff.

SOURCE...Radar.

IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams,
         urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Salina, Lindsborg, Marquette, Brookville, Smolan, Falun and Salina 
  Airport.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Do not drive into flooded areas or go around barricades. Nearly two 
feet of water will carry most vehicles away. Turn around, don't 
drown.

&&

LAT...LON 3862 9792 3865 9792 3870 9793 3880 9793
      3880 9774 3889 9771 3888 9765 3850 9765
      3847 9792 3849 9792 3851 9792 3852 9792
      3855 9792 3857 9792 3860 9792 3861 9792

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE

$$

Jakub

393 
WGUS73 KICT 220538
FFSICT

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
1238 AM CDT Tue Jul 22 2025

KSC113-169-220548-
/O.CAN.KICT.FF.W.0017.000000T0000Z-250722T0700Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
McPherson KS-Saline KS-
1238 AM CDT Tue Jul 22 2025

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR NORTHWESTERN MCPHERSON AND 
WESTERN SALINE COUNTIES...

The heavy rain has ended. Flash flooding is no longer expected to 
pose a threat, however excessive runoff from earlier heavy rainfall 
could still cause some minor flooding issues. Please continue to 
heed remaining road closures.

&&

LAT...LON 3862 9792 3865 9792 3870 9793 3880 9793
      3880 9774 3889 9771 3888 9765 3850 9765
      3847 9792 3849 9792 3851 9792 3852 9792
      3855 9792 3857 9792 3860 9792 3861 9792

$$

Jakub

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Wichita, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Jul 21, 7:05 PM CDT, 1 hour 53 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

A strong to severe storm cannot be ruled out along I-70 this afternoon and evening.
Dangerous heat gradually waning by mid-week.
Periodic low storm chances late Wednesday through Friday. Best chances Thursday afternoon-night.
Heat likely to return this weekend into the beginning of next week.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 21, 7:05 PM CDT, 1 hour 53 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wichita KS
705 PM CDT Mon Jul 21 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- A strong to severe storm cannot be ruled out along I-70 this afternoon
  and evening.

- Dangerous heat gradually waning by mid-week.

- Periodic low storm chances late Wednesday through Friday. Best chances
  Thursday afternoon-night.

- Heat likely to return this weekend into the beginning of next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 328 PM CDT Mon Jul 21 2025

Morning elevated convection across northeast Kansas has left a
diffuse outflow/differential heating boundary from approximately
Salina to Chanute early this afternoon. This boundary extends
further northwest into north-central Kansas where it meets the nose
of a surface trough across western Kansas and far southern Nebraska.
Additional storms have developed across north-central Kansas early
this afternoon where these two features meet, and an outflow
boundary from this convection will likely lead to additional
development of showers and storms later this afternoon through
tonight for locations mainly along and north of I-70. Shear is
fairly modest (generally around 15 knots), but MLCAPE around 4000
J/kg could support a couple strong to severe storms along the I-70
corridor later this afternoon and this evening. Main concerns will
be wind gusts around 50-60 mph, the potential for heavy rainfall,
and frequent cloud-to-ground lightning. Surface convergence will
wane tonight, and the mid-level baroclinic zone that was the
catalyst for convection this morning will likely lift northward
keeping rain chances well north of the CWA come Tuesday morning.

Despite afternoon temperatures near the century mark Tuesday
afternoon, gusty winds due to a tight pressure gradient along with
surface winds being slightly west of due south should allow for
moisture to mix out a bit better, and heat indices will struggle to
get to or above 105 as result. However, we've elected to keep the
Extreme Heat Warning for now given the longevity of heat indices of
at least 105. The upper ridge moves eastward by Wednesday, and this
will support afternoon temperatures being a little less hot than
today and Tuesday. Again heat indices will struggle to reach 105
Wednesday afternoon given slightly "cooler" temperatures. Subtle
mid/upper troughing will settle in across the central plains and
will leave the door open for periodic storm chances Wednesday night
through Friday. Though shear won't be stellar, 15 to 25 knots of 0-6
km shear, along with decent instability (despite fairly meager lapse
rates) could support an isolated strong or severe storm or two,
especially Thursday afternoon and evening.

After Friday, long range global deterministic and ensemble models
suggest a fairly robust, anomalously strong ridge developing across
a large portion of the central CONUS. 50-70% probabilities of 500 mb
heights exceeding the 99.5th percentile were noted on the EPS and
GEFS later this weekend into early next week suggesting another
prolonged period of hot temperatures across the forecast area.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 647 PM CDT Mon Jul 21 2025

The main challenges are in the short term with ongoing
convective development especially over northern Kansas. At this
time, KRSL and KSLN will be primarily impacted with a chance
for KGBD. The activity is expected to slowly move south and east.
An amendment may be needed to switch to a prevailing TSRA
depending on how this activity evolves. Additionally other sites
might (KHUT and KICT) may need to be added if there is a greater
southern push. Severe storms could produce up to half dollar
sized hail and 70 mph winds. Heavy rainfall would be expected
with this activity could bring IFR even LIFR conditions if it
impacts the site directly. Otherwise winds should diminish this
evening into tonight. Mixing will bring them up again late
morning through the afternoon with speeds around 15-20kts and
gusts to 30-35kts.

&&

.ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Extreme Heat Warning until 7 PM CDT Wednesday for KSZ032-033-
047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100.

&&

DISCUSSION...JC
AVIATION...VJP

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 21, 3:39 PM CDT, 5 hours 19 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Wichita KS
339 PM CDT Mon Jul 21 2025

KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-222045-
Russell-Lincoln-Barton-Ellsworth-Saline-Rice-McPherson-Marion-Chase-
Reno-Harvey-Butler-Greenwood-Woodson-Allen-Kingman-Sedgwick-Harper-
Sumner-Cowley-Elk-Wilson-Neosho-Chautauqua-Montgomery-Labette-
339 PM CDT Mon Jul 21 2025

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Central Kansas,
South Central Kansas and Southeast Kansas.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

Isolated thunderstorms are possible across portions of central
Kansas this afternoon and evening. The strongest storms may produce
wind gusts near 60 mph and brief heavy rainfall.

Heat indices up to 110 degrees are expected this afternoon across
the entire area. Please refer to the Extreme Heat Warning for
additional detail.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday

Shower and thunderstorm chances return Wednesday night through
Friday night, with the best chances being Thursday afternoon through
Thursday night. Widespread severe weather is not expected.

Heat indices will climb up to 110 degrees through at least
Wednesday across much of the area. An Extreme Heat Warning is in
effect through 7 PM Wednesday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not anticipated tonight.

&&

For a graphical version of this information, see our webpage at:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=ict

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 21, 7:57 PM CDT, 1 hour 1 minute before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
757 PM CDT Mon Jul 21 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0745 PM     Rain             Ellsworth               38.74N 98.23W
07/21/2025  M1.35 Inch       Ellsworth          KS   Trained Spotter

            Rainfall total in the last hour.

&&

Local storm report, Jul 21, 7:58 PM CDT, 1 hour before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
758 PM CDT Mon Jul 21 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0754 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     9 NNE Ellsworth         38.85N 98.16W
07/21/2025                   Ellsworth          KS   Emergency Mngr

            Reported a semi blown over at Mile Marker
            222 on I-70 from thunderstorm wind gusts.

&&

CDJ

Local storm report, Jul 21, 8:25 PM CDT, 33 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
825 PM CDT Mon Jul 21 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0758 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     6 ENE Kanopolis         38.73N 98.04W
07/21/2025  M66 MPH          Ellsworth          KS   Mesonet

&&

CDJ

Local storm report, Jul 21, 8:27 PM CDT, 31 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
827 PM CDT Mon Jul 21 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0825 PM     Flash Flood      Glendale                38.90N 97.87W
07/21/2025                   Saline             KS   Trained Spotter

            Numerous streets and yards were flooded with
            standing high water across town.

&&

CDJ

Local storm report, Jul 21, 8:50 PM CDT, 8 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
850 PM CDT Mon Jul 21 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0847 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 E Great Bend          38.36N 98.78W
07/21/2025  E70 MPH          Barton             KS   Trained Spotter

            Also reported power poles and large tree
            limbs down.

&&

CDJ

Local storm report, Jul 21, 8:54 PM CDT, 4 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
854 PM CDT Mon Jul 21 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0848 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Great Bend              38.37N 98.79W
07/21/2025                   Barton             KS   Emergency Mngr

            Reports of several downed power lines and a
            transformer also down.

&&

CDJ

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 21, 7:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	ICT	Russell	45 min
Jul 21, 7:51 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	ICT	Saline	5 hr
Jul 21, 7:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Ellsworth, McPherson, Rice, Saline	51 min
Jul 21, 8:00 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Ellsworth, Saline	45 min
Jul 21, 8:14 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Barton	61 min
Jul 21, 8:42 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Ellsworth, Harvey, McPherson, Reno, Rice, Saline	78 min
Jul 21, 9:21 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	ICT	Kingman, Reno, Sedgwick	39 min
Jul 21, 9:34 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threat	ICT	Kingman, Reno, Sedgwick	26 min
Jul 21, 9:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	ICT	Harper, Kingman, Sedgwick, Sumner	50 min
Jul 21, 9:57 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	ICT	Sedgwick, Sumner	48 min
Jul 21, 10:37 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Butler	38 min
Jul 21, 10:45 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	ICT	McPherson, Saline	23 hr
Jul 21, 10:47 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	ICT	Saline	17 hr
Jul 21, 10:56 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Sedgwick	34 min
Jul 21, 10:59 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Butler, Chase, Greenwood, Marion	61 min
Jul 21, 11:40 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	ICT	Lincoln	22 hr
Jul 21, 11:53 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	ICT	McPherson	37 hr
Jul 21, 11:53 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	ICT	McPherson, Saline	45 hr
Jul 22, 12:42 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	ICT	McPherson, Saline	21 hr
Jul 22, 11:20 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	ICT	Lincoln	20 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Kansas, 2025 Every flash flood warning in 2025

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.