Alert archive / Kansas / River Flood Warnings in 2026

River Flood Warning 32, NWS Topeka, KS

June 5, 2026Pottawatomie County, Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this river flood warning at Jun 5, 2026, 12:01 AM CDT for Pottawatomie County, Kansas. It took effect at Jun 5, 2026, 5:05 AM CDT. It was in force for 12 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jun 5, 2026, 12:01 AM CDT (05:01 UTC)
In effect from
Jun 5, 2026, 5:05 AM CDT
Expired
Jun 5, 2026, 5:33 PM CDT
In force
12 hr
Issued by
NWS Topeka, KS
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
Minor

County Pottawatomie County, KS

The radar

The Topeka radar (KTWX), 44 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:02 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.

The river

Written for the forecast point Vermillion Creek near Wamego (VCWK1). The gauge peaked at 20.07 ft at Jun 5, 2026, 2:00 PM CDT.

actionminormoderate102006/0506/06
Action stage
18 ft
Minor stage
20 ft
Moderate stage
24 ft
Major stage
30 ft

This gauge today: stage, forecast and historic crests

Stage from the USGS instantaneous record for site 06888000, one reading an hour, from a day before the product to a day after it ended. Flood stages are today's.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this river 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 river flood warning went out at Jun 4, 6:33 PM CDT, 5 hours 28 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • A low chance for severe storms remains this afternoon and evening. Damaging winds, hail up to quarter size, and a tornado or two are possible.
  • Rounds of showers and storms producing 1-2" per hour rainfall rates could lead to flooding, mainly north of Interstate 70. A Flood Watch remains in effect into early Friday.
  • Showers and storms may impact northern Kansas Friday evening/night and bring a low risk for severe weather and heavy rainfall.
  • A higher chance for showers and storms comes Saturday night into Sunday night. Locally heavy rainfall is possible again, most likely across east central Kansas.&&
Area forecast discussion, Jun 4, 6:33 PM CDT, 5 hours 28 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Topeka KS
633 PM CDT Thu Jun 4 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- A low chance for severe storms remains this afternoon and
  evening. Damaging winds, hail up to quarter size, and a
  tornado or two are possible.

- Rounds of showers and storms producing 1-2" per hour rainfall rates
  could lead to flooding, mainly north of Interstate 70. A
  Flood Watch remains in effect into early Friday.

- Showers and storms may impact northern Kansas Friday evening/night
  and bring a low risk for severe weather and heavy rainfall.

- A higher chance for showers and storms comes Saturday night
  into Sunday night. Locally heavy rainfall is possible again,
  most likely across east central Kansas.&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 205 PM CDT Thu Jun 4 2026

A mid-level shortwave is moving east across the Central Plains this
afternoon with a MCV spinning across central Kansas. An uncapped and
unstable airmass has lead to the development of widely scattered
thunderstorms and coverage has been increasing as the MCV
approaches. While deep shear is rather weak, low-level shear
increases as the MCV moves towards the area, supporting
multicellular structures or even some supercellular structures. Hail
up to quarter size and 60 MPH wind gusts are the main severe hazard.
Steep low-level lapse rates could stretch existing surface vorticity
which, along with the elongation of the low-level hodograph, leads
to the potential for a tornado or two to spin up. The flooding
threat remains as well with HREF members showing the potential for 1-
2" per hour rainfall rates, with best chances for repeated rounds of
rain north of Interstate 70. Rainfall totals of 1-2 are likely with
localized areas up to 4 inches possible. The Flood Watch remains in
effect through 4 AM.

Rain is progged to exit the area early Friday morning with dry time
through the majority of the day. Similar to the past few days, the
environment becomes uncapped by Friday afternoon and isolated storms
could develop. However, a lack of large-scale ascent should limit
coverage and CAMs are generally void of convection until late
afternoon and into the evening when a surface front/trough sags into
southern Nebraska. While guidance varies in location of this
boundary, they have shifted farther north with convection developing
in Nebraska along the nose of the low-level jet. This leads to less
certainty in these storms impacting the forecast area as steering
flow should push storms east-southeast. If storms do impact the
area, they could produce wind gusts of 60 MPH and hail up to quarter
size. High PWATs could lead to locally heavy rainfall as well.

Another break in precipitation appears likely Saturday before the
closed upper low lifts northeast Saturday night into Sunday. Showers
and storms build back into the area and the environment again favors
high rainfall rates with PWATs above the 90th percentile of
climatology. The good news is the best signal for heavy rainfall is
across southeast and east central Kansas which have missed out on
the bulk of rain over the past few days. The NBM mean shows 1-1.5"
of rain across east central Kansas, with the 75th percentile of 2-
2.5".

Conditions dry out for the beginning of next week as ridging builds
overhead. While strength of this ridge varies among guidance, this
ridge brings summer-like heat and humidity. Heat indices of 100+
degrees are appearing more likely beginning Tuesday and continuing
into the middle of next. There could be a couple of waves that ride
the ridge and produce showers/storms, but predictability is low
this far out.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 633 PM CDT Thu Jun 4 2026

Thunderstorms are the main aviation concern, especially in the first
part of the period. Am less confident about direct impacts at Topeka
terminals with storms ongoing near MHK. As such, have gone with
prevailing TS for the first few hours at MHK with a PROB30 group for
the best timing at TOP/FOE. Storms are expected to move east of
terminals late tonight with VFR conditions. South/southwest winds
continue around or just above 10 kts.

&&

.TOP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flood Watch until 4 AM CDT Friday for KSZ008-KSZ009-KSZ010-KSZ011-
KSZ012-KSZ020-KSZ021-KSZ022-KSZ023-KSZ024-KSZ034.

&&

DISCUSSION...Flanagan
AVIATION...Picha
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 4, 2:14 PM CDT, 9 hours 47 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Topeka KS
214 PM CDT Thu Jun 4 2026

KSZ008>012-020>024-026-034>040-054>056-058-059-051915-
Republic-Washington-Marshall-Nemaha-Brown-Cloud-Clay-Riley-
Pottawatomie-Jackson-Jefferson-Ottawa-Dickinson-Geary-Morris-
Wabaunsee-Shawnee-Douglas-Lyon-Osage-Franklin-Coffey-Anderson-
214 PM CDT Thu Jun 4 2026

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

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Showers and thunderstorms are expected across the area this
afternoon and into the evening. Rounds of showers and storms
producing 1-2" per hour rainfall rates could lead to flooding,
mainly north of Interstate 70. A Flood Watch remains in effect for
this area into early Friday.

A few severe thunderstorms are also possible this afternoon and
evening across the area. Damaging winds, hail up to quarter size, and a
tornado or two are possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

A few strong to severe storms are possible Friday evening and
Friday night across northern Kansas. Storms could produce locally
heavy rainfall as well.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are encouraged to report hail, damaging wind, tornadoes,
or flooding to the National Weather Service in Topeka.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 4, 7:44 PM CDT, 4 hours 17 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
744 PM CDT Thu Jun 4 2026

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

0457 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 SSW Marysville        39.80N 96.66W
06/04/2026                   Marshall           KS   Emergency Mngr

            Report of wind damage to homestead. EM was
            going to check out damage.

&&

SMB
Local storm report, Jun 4, 7:47 PM CDT, 4 hours 14 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
747 PM CDT Thu Jun 4 2026

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

0513 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 ENE Riley             39.30N 96.82W
06/04/2026                   Riley              KS   Emergency Mngr

&&

SMB
Local storm report, Jun 4, 7:58 PM CDT, 4 hours 3 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
758 PM CDT Thu Jun 4 2026

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

0757 PM     Flash Flood      Olsburg                 39.43N 96.61W
06/04/2026                   Pottawatomie       KS   Emergency Mngr

            Reports from the EM of numerous roads under
            water.

&&

SMB
Special weather statement, Jun 4, 8:03 PM CDT, 3 hours 58 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
803 PM CDT Thu Jun 4 2026

KSZ023-024-050145-
Pottawatomie-Jackson-
803 PM CDT Thu Jun 4 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EASTERN POTTAWATOMIE AND JACKSON
COUNTIES THROUGH 845 PM CDT...

At 803 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Emmett, moving east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down small tree limbs and blow
         around unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Holton, Hoyt, Mayetta, Emmett, Denison, Circleville, Delia, and
Potawatomi Reservation.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3922 9625 3945 9633 3956 9559 3922 9559
TIME...MOT...LOC 0103Z 258DEG 42KT 3934 9601

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

BD
Local storm report, Jun 4, 9:22 PM CDT, 2 hours 39 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
922 PM CDT Thu Jun 4 2026

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

0907 PM     Rain             Seneca                  39.84N 96.06W
06/04/2026  M3.20 Inch       Nemaha             KS   Other Federal

&&

SMB
Local storm report, Jun 4, 11:04 PM CDT, 57 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
1104 PM CDT Thu Jun 4 2026

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

1044 PM     Flash Flood      2 W Whiting             39.59N 95.65W
06/04/2026                   Jackson            KS   Law Enforcement

            Flash flooding occurring over Hwy K9 of 8
            inches in depth.

&&

SMB

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 4, 7:28 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryTOPRiley3 hr
Jun 4, 8:03 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPJackson42 min
Jun 4, 8:05 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningTOPRiley11 hr
Jun 4, 8:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPJackson, Pottawatomie36 min
Jun 4, 8:31 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryTOPPottawatomie3 hr
Jun 4, 9:11 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningTOPWashington35 hr
Jun 4, 9:14 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningTOPMarshall32 hr
Jun 4, 9:38 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryTOPBrown, Jackson, Nemaha3 hr
Jun 4, 10:04 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryTOPNemaha3 hr
Jun 4, 10:12 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningTOPPottawatomie, Riley10 hr
Jun 4, 10:25 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningTOPNemaha6 hr
Jun 4, 10:40 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningTOPJackson, Pottawatomie4 hr
Jun 4, 10:51 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningTOPBrown5 hr
Jun 5, 12:24 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningTOPBrown, Marshall, Nemaha4 hr
Jun 5, 2:14 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningTOPJackson14 hr
Jun 5, 3:56 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningTOPBrown, Nemaha5 hr
Jun 5, 3:59 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningTOPBrown5 hr
Jun 5, 3:59 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningTOPBrown5 hr
Jun 5, 4:26 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningTOPNemaha11 hr
Jun 5, 9:10 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningTOPBrown, Nemaha7 hr
Jun 5, 10:35 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningTOPJefferson21 hr
Jun 5, 1:08 PM CDTFlood WatchTOPBrown, Jackson, Marshall, Nemaha15 hr

Nearby

River Flood Warnings in Kansas, 2026Every river 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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive; the gauge from the NWS water service and the USGS.