Alert archive / Kansas / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 37, NWS Topeka, KS

July 24, 2026Ottawa County, Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this flash flood warning at Jul 24, 2026, 1:14 AM CDT for Ottawa County, Kansas. It was in force for 3 hr. 1 report 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 24, 2026, 1:14 AM CDT (06:14 UTC)
Expired
Jul 24, 2026, 3:58 AM CDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Topeka, KS
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Ottawa County, KS

The radar

The Topeka radar (KTWX), 135 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 06:17 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
Jul 24, 1:33 AM CDTRAIN 3.42 Ne Ada, KS

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

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

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, 6.2 hours before the alert went out and 186 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 2026-07-24Temperature 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°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Topeka, KS at 00:00Z on 2026-07-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 1 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
849 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
41 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
1 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
134 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

224 
WGUS53 KTOP 240614
FFWTOP
KSC143-241000-
/O.NEW.KTOP.FF.W.0037.260724T0614Z-260724T1000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Topeka KS
114 AM CDT Fri Jul 24 2026

The National Weather Service in Topeka has issued a

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

* Until 500 AM CDT.

* At 114 AM CDT, emergency management reported thunderstorms
  producing heavy rain in From near Ada to a few miles south of
  Minneapolis. Between 1.5 and 3 inches of rain have fallen.
  Additional rainfall amounts up to 1 inch are possible in the warned
  area. Flash flooding is already occurring.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Emergency management reported.

  IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
           highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
           drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Ada.

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.

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

&&

LAT...LON 3923 9793 3896 9749 3896 9769 3917 9793

FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED

$$
1 follow-up statement
961 
WGUS73 KTOP 240858
FFSTOP

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
358 AM CDT Fri Jul 24 2026

KSC143-240908-
/O.CAN.KTOP.FF.W.0037.000000T0000Z-260724T1000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Ottawa KS-
358 AM CDT Fri Jul 24 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR SOUTHWESTERN OTTAWA COUNTY...

Emergency management reports flood waters have receded. Flooding is
no longer expected to pose a threat. Please continue to heed
remaining road closures.

&&

LAT...LON 3917 9793 3896 9769 3896 9749 3923 9793

$$

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 Topeka, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Jul 24, 12:43 AM CDT, 31 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Another round of rain/storms tonight. 40-60% chances for greater than 1 inch of rainfall across much of central and northeastern Kansas. Some areas could see locally higher amounts up to 2 inches.
  • Dangerous heat returns by the weekend - especially Sunday and Monday. Air temperatures will approach the upper 90s and low 100s through early next week.
  • Heat indices Saturday into Tuesday will top out in the 100-110 degree range each afternoon.
  • A brief cool-down and more active weather pattern looks to setup by Wednesday as temperatures fall back closer to average.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 24, 12:43 AM CDT, 31 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Topeka KS
1243 AM CDT Fri Jul 24 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Another round of rain/storms tonight. 40-60% chances for greater
than 1 inch of rainfall across much of central and northeastern
Kansas. Some areas could see locally higher amounts up to 2 inches.

- Dangerous heat returns by the weekend - especially Sunday and
Monday. Air temperatures will approach the upper 90s and low 100s
through early next week.

- Heat indices Saturday into Tuesday will top out in the 100-110
degree range each afternoon.

- A brief cool-down and more active weather pattern looks to setup
by Wednesday as temperatures fall back closer to average.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 256 PM CDT Thu Jul 23 2026

This morning's rain has for the most part come to an end with
several areas across central Kansas seeing 1-2.5" of rainfall!
Another round is expected later tonight - more on this later. For
the remainder of the day today, broken cloud cover will limit much
warming as temperatures struggle to exceed the upper 70s. Looking at
synoptic features aloft, a large dome of high pressure still
dominates the southern Plains with weak shortwave energy rounding
the northern axis of the ridge. By this evening and into the
overnight hours, the aforementioned shortwave will move into
southern Nebraska and north-central Kansas increasing mid-level lift
across the area. A strengthening nocturnal LLJ will aid in low-level
isentropic lift by midnight tonight as showers and thunderstorms
spread across central KS. PWATs ranging from 2-2.25" shows the
possibility of very efficient rainfall rates overnight. The main
question is where will the main axis of QPF fall through the
overnight hours. Guidance has stayed fairly consistent with the best
deep layer moisture staying along and north of I-70 and thus,
highest confidence in higher rainfall totals stays in this area
through Friday morning. Areas south of I-70 will still see rain, but
totals may only range from 0.25"-0.75" with isolated pockets of 1
inch totals. Areas along and north of I-70 will have the best chance
to see greater than 1 inch of rainfall with isolated areas seeing
closer to 2 inches. NBM probabilities of rain totals greater than an
inch along and north of I-70 range from 50-80% with probs dropping
to 25-50% for totals over 2 inches. Cannot rule out some isolated
flooding occurring by Friday morning, especially in areas that saw
heavy rainfall last night. Rain lingers across far eastern into the
early afternoon Friday that should help keep temperatures on the
cool side yet again. Expectation is for areas across central Kansas
to clear clouds by the late morning and increase temperatures into
the mid to upper 80s by the afternoon whereas areas further east may
only top out in the upper 70s and low 80s.

Dangerous heat will be the main headline for the weekend and into
early next week as the upper ridge begins to expand north across the
central Plains during the day Saturday. Saturday will see highs
increase into the low to mid 90s before highs build into the upper
90s and low 100s by Sunday and Monday. Confidence is fairly high for
areas Sunday and Monday to see afternoon highs ranging from 95 to
103 degrees given the small ensemble spreads. NBM probabilities for
areas across central, north-central and along/south I-70 exceeding
100 degrees Monday are currently sitting around 60-90%. Heat indices
each day Saturday through next Tuesday will likely push into the 100-
110 degree range.

Some reprieve in the dangerous heat may come by Wednesday as the
upper ridge sinks a bit south and allows mid-level energy/waves to
filter into eastern Kansas. This should allow temperatures to fall
back closer to average with the increase in cloud cover and low-end
precipitation chances. Afternoon high temperature spreads by next
weekend currently sit between the mid 80s and low 90s.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 1227 AM CDT Fri Jul 24 2026

For the balance of tonight into early this morning, showers and
storms generally work west to east across the area. The first batch
is trending to move mainly south of I-70 leaving more isolated to
scattered showers and a storm or two north of I-70 which is reason to
leave VCTS mention at this time. Then from west to east, there could
be a lull in activity until an hour or two before sunrise. As the
upper wave swings into the area from the west, more widespread
showers are expected to develop and last through mid-morning before
exiting the area. May see brief MVFR to IFR conditions with the
showers and storms but then more uncertainty in stratus into the
midday and afternoon time frame. Have maintained VFR levels for now
but cloud bases could drop into the marginal VFR categories into the
afternoon and remain slow to clear the area. Will continue to watch
trends into the morning over western areas to better gauge the extent
of possible afternoon low-level stratus.

&&

.TOP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

DISCUSSION...Griesemer
AVIATION...Drake
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 23, 3:07 PM CDT, 10 hours 7 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Topeka KS
307 PM CDT Thu Jul 23 2026

KSZ008>012-020>024-026-034>040-054>056-058-059-242015-
Republic-Washington-Marshall-Nemaha-Brown-Cloud-Clay-Riley-
Pottawatomie-Jackson-Jefferson-Ottawa-Dickinson-Geary-Morris-
Wabaunsee-Shawnee-Douglas-Lyon-Osage-Franklin-Coffey-Anderson-
307 PM CDT Thu Jul 23 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Kansas, east central
Kansas, north central Kansas and northeast Kansas.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Another round of heavy rainfall into early Friday could lead to
additional flooding of area creeks and streams, mainly across areas
that saw heavy rainfall Wednesday night/Thursday morning.

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

Heat index values of 100 to 110 degrees will be possible Saturday
afternoon, with heat index values of 105 to 110 degrees possible
Sunday and Monday afternoon.

&&

More detailed information can be found at:
www.weather.gov/media/top/DssPacket.pdf

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 23, 11:31 PM CDT, 1 hour 43 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
1131 PM CDT Thu Jul 23 2026

KSZ036-240500-
Geary-
1131 PM CDT Thu Jul 23 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN GEARY COUNTY THROUGH
MIDNIGHT CDT...

At 1131 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles south of Grandview Plaza, moving east at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Minor hail damage to outdoor objects and vegetation is
         possible.

This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of southern Geary
County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3899 9658 3887 9658 3887 9686 3896 9687
TIME...MOT...LOC 0431Z 268DEG 22KT 3892 9680

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH
Local storm report, Jul 24, 12:39 AM CDT, 35 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
1239 AM CDT Fri Jul 24 2026

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

1235 AM     Flood            1 ENE Ada               39.15N 97.88W
07/24/2026                   Ottawa             KS   Emergency Mngr

            Several inches of water flowing over
            roadways near Ada.

&&

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 23, 10:49 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryTOPOttawa3 hr
Jul 23, 11:31 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPGeary29 min
Jul 24, 12:37 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningTOPOttawa37 min
Jul 24, 12:51 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryTOPDickinson3 hr
Jul 24, 1:51 AM CDTExtreme Heat WatchTOPAnderson, Brown, Clay, Cloud, Coffey, Dickinson and 17 more3 days
Jul 24, 4:23 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningTOPOttawa47 hr
Jul 24, 5:07 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryTOPClay, Riley, Washington5 hr
Jul 24, 11:33 AM CDTHeat AdvisoryTOPAnderson, Brown, Clay, Cloud, Coffey, Dickinson and 17 more48 hr
Jul 24, 11:33 AM CDTExtreme Heat WarningTOPAnderson, Brown, Clay, Cloud, Coffey, Dickinson and 17 more3 days

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Kansas, 2026Every flash flood warning in 2026

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.