Missouri, 1997

Flooding in Missouri, May 1 to 31, 1997

May 1 to 31, 1997 · NWS EAX · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

Several episodes of heavy rain across West Central and Northwest Missouri during May caused minor to moderate river flooding.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
7

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS EAX wrote it up.

Several episodes of heavy rain across West Central and Northwest Missouri during May caused minor to moderate river flooding. The heaviest rains fell on May 17,18 then again on May 25,26.South Grand RiverUrich, MOFlood Stage 24 ftAbove Flood Stage 5/18 to 5/22 5/25 to 5/31Crest 26.6 ft on 5/19 27.95 ft on 5/28Big CreekBlairstown, MOFlood Stage 20 ftAbove Flood Stage 5/26 to 5/28Crest 24.8 ft on 5/27Platte RiverAgency, MOFlood Stage 20 ftAbove Flood Stage 5/1 to 5/2 5/8 to 5/9Crest 22.5 ft on 5/1 21.1 ft on 5/19Sharps Station, MOFlood Stage 26 ftAbove Flood Stage 5/2 to 5/4Crest 26.9 ft on 5/3Platte City, MOFlood Stage 20 ftAbove Flood Stage 5/2 to 5/4Crest 23.2 ft on 5/3Grand RiverSumner, MOFlood Stage 26 ftAbove Flood Stage 5/2 to 5/5Crest 28.5 ft on 5/2Brunswick, MOFlood Stage 19 ftAbove Flood Stage 5/5Crest 19.3 ftBlackwater RiverValley City, MOFlood Stage 22 ftAbove Flood Stage 5/27 to 5/28Crest 23.5 ft on 5/27Blue Lick, MOFlood Stage 25 ftAbove Flood Stage 5/27 to 5/31Crest 27.02 ft on 5/30Lamine RiverOtterville, MOFlood Stage 15 ftAbove Flood Stage 5/26 to 5/28Crest 20.64 ft on 5/27

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Buchanan

When
May 1, 12:00 AM CST to May 9, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Buchanan forecast zone
Coordinates
39.660, -94.806 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Platte

When
May 2, 12:00 AM CST to May 4, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Platte forecast zone
Coordinates
39.381, -94.774 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Chariton

When
May 2, 12:00 AM CST to May 5, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Chariton forecast zone
Coordinates
39.515, -92.963 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Henry

When
May 18, 12:00 AM CST to May 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Henry forecast zone
Coordinates
38.385, -93.793 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Cooper

When
May 26, 12:00 AM CST to May 28, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Cooper forecast zone
Coordinates
38.844, -92.810 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Johnson

When
May 27, 12:00 AM CST to May 28, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Johnson forecast zone
Coordinates
38.744, -93.806 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Saline

When
May 27, 12:00 AM CST to May 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Saline forecast zone
Coordinates
39.137, -93.202 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

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

More

Every storm in Missouri in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Missouri, May 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: 5585559, 5585560, 5585561, 5585556, 5585562, 5585557, 5585558.