Rainfall of around 8 inches in about 24 hours produced widespread severe flash flooding in and around the city of Lawrence during the late night and early morning hours. At least 2 cars were swept off 23rd street into Naismith creek, and occupants of the cars had to be rescued by emergency crews.
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Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS TOP wrote it up.
Rainfall of around 8 inches in about 24 hours produced widespread severe flash flooding in and around the city of Lawrence during the late night and early morning hours. At least 2 cars were swept off 23rd street into Naismith creek, and occupants of the cars had to be rescued by emergency crews. One of the cars was in a vertical position at the bridge trapping the person inside who nearly drown before being rescued. Flood waters covered nearly all city streets at one time or another, and stalled cars were numerous. The high waters even closed Interstate 70 for about 2 hours 3 miles west of Lawrence. Three injuries were attributed to the flash flooding which was considered the worst since the Summer of 1993. Damage costs were estimated from several data sources and may be adjusted as more information is available.
The Topeka radar (KTWX), 82 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:55 UTC.
1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, June 1996
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5550998.