Flash Flooding and Flood in Kansas, July 5 to 21, 1997

Name: Flash Flooding and Flood in Kansas, July 5 to 21, 1997
Start: 1997-07-05T14:40
End: 1997-07-21T15:11
Location: Kansas

July 5 to 21, 1997 · NWS DDC · 80 events in 20 counties and zones

50 hail, 24 thunderstorm wind, 3 flash flood, 2 lightning, 1 flood, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 3
Property damage: $52,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 80

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 radar

The Goodland radar (KGLD), 150 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:41 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

50 hail, 24 thunderstorm wind, 3 flash flood, 2 lightning, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Hamilton

When: July 5, 2:40 PM CST
Where: Hamilton County, 2 mi E of Coolidge
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 38.030, -101.970

Hail, Hamilton

When: July 5, 3:01 PM CST
Where: Hamilton County, 4 mi N of Syracuse
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Coordinates: 38.030, -101.750

Lightning, Stanton

When: July 5, 3:30 PM CST
Where: Stanton County, Manter
Injuries: 3 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 37.563, -101.784 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Three were injured by a lightning bolt. One was a 70 year old male, another a 8 year old male and the third, a 5 year old female. All three had to be revived by CPR and all three were burned. Witnesses said they heard thunder only a couple of times but saw no lightning.

Thunderstorm Wind, Stanton

When: July 5, 3:45 PM CST
Where: Stanton County, Manter
Property damage: $2,000
Coordinates: 37.520, -101.880

Windows were blown out of a van and stop signs were blown down.

Hail, Hamilton

When: July 5, 4:00 PM CST
Where: Hamilton County, 19 mi N of Syracuse
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 38.270, -101.750

Thunderstorm Wind, Hamilton

When: July 5, 4:00 PM CST
Where: Hamilton County, 19 mi N of Syracuse
Measured: 59 kt (68 mph)
Coordinates: 38.270, -101.750

Hail, Scott

When: July 5, 4:05 PM CST
Where: Scott County, 11 mi N of Modoc
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 38.650, -101.080

Hail, Stanton

When: July 5, 4:30 PM CST
Where: Stanton County, 2 mi S of Johnson
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 37.530, -101.750

Hail, Scott

When: July 5, 4:42 PM CST
Where: Scott County, 6 mi SSW of Shallow Water
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 38.300, -100.970

Hail, Stanton

When: July 5, 4:45 PM CST
Where: Stanton County, 7 mi SW of Manter
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 37.450, -101.970

Thunderstorm Wind, Trego

When: July 5, 4:52 PM CST
Where: Trego County, 2 mi S of Voda
Measured: 64 kt (74 mph)
Coordinates: 39.020, -100.020

Semi and a Winnebego were blown over on Interstate 70

Hail, Morton

When: July 5, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Morton County, 2 mi W of Richfield
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 37.270, -101.820

Thunderstorm Wind, Morton

When: July 5, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Morton County, 2 mi W of Richfield
Measured: 64 kt (74 mph)
Coordinates: 37.270, -101.820

Thunderstorm Wind, Lane

When: July 5, 5:03 PM CST
Where: Lane County, Shields
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 38.620, -100.450

Thunderstorm Wind, Finney

When: July 5, 5:05 PM CST
Where: Finney County, 16 mi NNE of Garden City
Measured: 64 kt (74 mph)
Coordinates: 38.180, -100.750

Hail, Morton

When: July 5, 5:09 PM CST
Where: Morton County, 1 mi NE of Richfield
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.280, -101.770

Thunderstorm Wind, Trego

When: July 5, 5:15 PM CST
Where: Trego County, Cedar Bluff Res
Measured: 64 kt (74 mph)
Coordinates: 38.780, -99.800

Thunderstorm Wind, Ness

When: July 5, 5:20 PM CST
Where: Ness County, 2 mi NNW of Arnold
Property damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 38.670, -100.070

Three inch tree limbs blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Morton

When: July 5, 5:32 PM CST
Where: Morton County, 7 mi NE of Elkhart
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 37.070, -101.820

Thunderstorm Wind, Gray

When: July 5, 5:45 PM CST
Where: Gray County, 13 mi NNE of Cimarron
Property damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 37.970, -100.270

Four inch tree limbs blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Finney

When: July 5, 5:45 PM CST
Where: Finney County, 15 mi WSW of Kalvesta
Measured: 64 kt (74 mph)
Coordinates: 38.000, -100.480

Hail, Ness

When: July 5, 5:45 PM CST
Where: Ness County, 2 mi N of Ness City
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 38.480, -99.900

Thunderstorm Wind, Morton

When: July 5, 5:45 PM CST
Where: Morton County, Rolla
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 37.120, -101.630

Thunderstorm Wind, Stevens

When: July 5, 5:58 PM CST
Where: Stevens County, 9 mi SW of Hugoton
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 37.080, -101.470

Thunderstorm Wind, Hodgeman

When: July 5, 6:10 PM CST
Where: Hodgeman County, 1 mi E of Jetmore
Measured: 64 kt (74 mph)
Coordinates: 38.080, -99.880

Tops of trees blown off.

Hail, Scott

When: July 8, 4:20 PM CST
Where: Scott County, 2 mi SE of Grigston
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 38.470, -100.680

Hail, Scott

When: July 8, 4:23 PM CST
Where: Scott County, 3 mi SE of Grigston
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 38.450, -100.680

Hail, Lane

When: July 8, 4:45 PM CST
Where: Lane County, 5 mi SW of Amy
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 38.430, -100.670

Hail, Ford

When: July 8, 5:13 PM CST
Where: Ford County, Dodge City
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.750, -100.020

Hail, Ford

When: July 8, 5:14 PM CST
Where: Ford County, Dodge City
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 37.750, -100.020

Hail, Ford

When: July 8, 5:17 PM CST
Where: Ford County, Dodge City
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Coordinates: 37.750, -100.020

Hail, Ford

When: July 8, 5:19 PM CST
Where: Ford County, Dodge City
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.750, -100.020

Thunderstorm Wind, Ford

When: July 8, 5:20 PM CST
Where: Ford County, Dodge City
Property damage: $3,000
Coordinates: 37.750, -100.020

Four inch tree limbs blown down.

Hail, Ford

When: July 8, 5:25 PM CST
Where: Ford County, Dodge City
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.750, -100.020

Hail, Finney

When: July 8, 5:26 PM CST
Where: Finney County, 22 mi NE of Garden City
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 38.200, -100.580

Hail, Ford

When: July 8, 5:34 PM CST
Where: Ford County, Dodge City
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 37.750, -100.020

Hail, Finney

When: July 8, 5:45 PM CST
Where: Finney County, 17 mi ENE of Garden City
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 38.070, -100.580

Hail, Finney

When: July 8, 5:55 PM CST
Where: Finney County, 17 mi ENE of Garden City
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 38.070, -100.580

Hail, Finney

When: July 8, 6:10 PM CST
Where: Finney County, 6 mi W of Kalvesta
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 38.080, -100.350

Hail, Ford

When: July 8, 6:10 PM CST
Where: Ford County, 10 mi N of Bucklin
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 37.700, -99.630

Hail, Kiowa

When: July 8, 6:20 PM CST
Where: Kiowa County, 13 mi WNW of Greensburg
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.670, -99.520

Hail, Edwards

When: July 8, 6:30 PM CST
Where: Edwards County, 12 mi S of Kinsley
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.750, -99.420

Hail, Finney

When: July 8, 6:30 PM CST
Where: Finney County, 10 mi WSW of Kalvesta
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 38.030, -100.400

Hail, Gray

When: July 8, 6:41 PM CST
Where: Gray County, 12 mi N of Cimarron
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.970, -100.350

Hail, Meade

When: July 8, 7:10 PM CST
Where: Meade County, 11 mi S of Plains
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.100, -100.600

Hail, Meade

When: July 8, 7:30 PM CST
Where: Meade County, Plains
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 37.270, -100.600

Lightning, Clark

When: July 8, 9:00 PM CST
Where: Clark County, 1 mi NW of Englewood
Coordinates: 37.236, -99.820 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two well pumps and several fence chargers destroyed by lightning.

Flash Flood, Meade

When: July 8, 10:43 PM CST
Where: Meade County, 11 mi SW of Meade
Coordinates: 37.238, -100.366 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Roads flooded at Meade State Park.

Flash Flood, Meade

When: July 10, 9:03 PM CST
Where: Meade County, 5 mi E of Meade
Coordinates: 37.238, -100.366 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Water over highway 98.

Thunderstorm Wind, Meade

When: July 10, 9:03 PM CST
Where: Meade County, Fowler
Measured: 64 kt (74 mph)
Coordinates: 37.380, -100.200

Flash Flood, Meade

When: July 10, 10:00 PM CST
Where: Meade County, 10 mi SE of Meade
Coordinates: 37.238, -100.366 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Water over old highway 160.

Hail, Edwards

When: July 11, 6:05 PM CST
Where: Edwards County, Kinsley
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.920, -99.420

Thunderstorm Wind, Edwards

When: July 11, 6:05 PM CST
Where: Edwards County, Kinsley
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 37.920, -99.420

Hail, Gray

When: July 14, 6:06 PM CST
Where: Gray County, 9 mi NW of Charleston
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.970, -100.680

Hail, Finney

When: July 14, 6:30 PM CST
Where: Finney County, 6 mi NE of Garden City
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 38.030, -100.780

Hail, Gray

When: July 14, 7:13 PM CST
Where: Gray County, Cimarron
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.800, -100.350

Hail, Gray

When: July 14, 7:26 PM CST
Where: Gray County, 6 mi E of Cimarron
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 37.800, -100.230

Hail, Gray

When: July 14, 7:28 PM CST
Where: Gray County, 5 mi E of Cimarron
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 37.800, -100.270

Hail, Ford

When: July 14, 7:45 PM CST
Where: Ford County, 5 mi W of Dodge City
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.750, -100.100

Hail, Comanche

When: July 15, 2:50 AM CST
Where: Comanche County, 21 mi SE of Coldwater
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.050, -99.070

Location 14 ESE Buttermilk

Hail, Comanche

When: July 15, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Comanche County, 23 mi SE of Coldwater
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 37.030, -99.030

Location 16 ESE Buttermilk

Hail, Barber

When: July 15, 4:15 AM CST
Where: Barber County, 9 mi NW of Medicine Lodge
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 37.380, -98.700

Hail, Pratt

When: July 15, 4:30 AM CST
Where: Pratt County, 13 mi SE of Pratt
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 37.520, -98.570

Thunderstorm Wind, Scott

When: July 15, 7:20 PM CST
Where: Scott County, Scott City
Property damage: $30,000
Coordinates: 38.480, -100.900

Tree was uprooted and then fell onto a house.

Hail, Scott

When: July 15, 7:35 PM CST
Where: Scott County, Scott City
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 38.480, -100.900

Thunderstorm Wind, Finney

When: July 15, 8:08 PM CST
Where: Finney County, 24 mi NNE of Garden City
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 38.280, -100.700

Hail, Ford

When: July 15, 10:00 PM CST
Where: Ford County, 16 mi SW of Dodge City
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.580, -100.220

Thunderstorm Wind, Ford

When: July 15, 10:30 PM CST
Where: Ford County, 14 mi SE of Dodge City
Property damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 37.600, -99.830

Four inch tree limbs blown down.

Hail, Barber

When: July 16, 12:45 AM CST
Where: Barber County, 22 mi NW of Medicine Lodge
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 37.520, -98.870

Hail, Edwards

When: July 19, 8:40 PM CST
Where: Edwards County, 3 mi SW of Trousdale
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.780, -99.120

Hail, Pratt

When: July 19, 8:45 PM CST
Where: Pratt County, 1 mi E of Cullison
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.630, -98.880

Hail, Pawnee

When: July 19, 9:23 PM CST
Where: Pawnee County, 4 mi NW of Garfield
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 38.120, -99.300

Flood, Pratt

When: July 20, 12:20 AM CST
Where: Pratt forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.648, -98.740 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Water over roads along the river near Pratt.

Hail, Stevens

When: July 20, 7:10 PM CST
Where: Stevens County, 6 mi SW of Hugoton
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.120, -101.430

Hail, Ford

When: July 20, 10:05 PM CST
Where: Ford County, 5 mi SE of Ford
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $500
Coordinates: 37.580, -99.680

Window broken by hail of unknown size.

Thunderstorm Wind, Ford

When: July 20, 10:13 PM CST
Where: Ford County, 1 mi NE of Kingsdown
Property damage: $8,000
Coordinates: 37.550, -99.730

One half mile of power poles blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Ford

When: July 20, 10:13 PM CST
Where: Ford County, 2 mi NE of Kingsdown
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 37.550, -99.720

Pivot irrigation system overturned.

Thunderstorm Wind, Ford

When: July 20, 10:17 PM CST
Where: Ford County, 5 mi W of Bucklin
Property damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 37.550, -99.720

Four inch tree limbs blown down.

Hail, Pawnee

When: July 21, 3:11 PM CST
Where: Pawnee County, 10 mi N of Burdett
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 38.350, -99.520

Thunderstorm Wind, Pawnee

When: July 21, 3:11 PM CST
Where: Pawnee County, 10 mi N of Burdett
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 38.350, -99.520

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Kansas in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in Kansas, July 1997

Sources

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: 5618209, 5618210, 5618211, 5618212, 5618213, 5618214, 5618215, 5618216, 5618217, 5618218, 5618219, 5618220, 5618221, 5618222, 5618223, 5618224, 5618225, 5618226, 5618227, 5618228, 5618229, 5618230, 5618231, 5618232, 5618297, 5618298, 5618299, 5618300, 5618301, 5618302, 5618303, 5618304, 5618305, 5618306, 5618307, 5618308, 5618309, 5618310, 5618311, 5618312, and more.