Flash Flood in Missouri, May 17, 1997

Name: Flash Flood in Missouri, May 17, 1997
Start: 1997-05-17T21:00
End: 1997-05-17T22:00
Location: Missouri

May 17, 1997 · NWS SGF · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Rainfall of up to 3 inches in less than two hours caused flash flooding across the central sections of the county. Highway 65 was closed in three places between Warsaw and Lincoln.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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: $10,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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 SGF wrote it up.

Rainfall of up to 3 inches in less than two hours caused flash flooding across the central sections of the county. Highway 65 was closed in three places between Warsaw and Lincoln. State Highways BB and T were closed temporarily with numerous other secondary roads under water. One truck was washed off a low water bridge, but no injuries were reported. Civil Defense director reported some road and bridge damage.

The radar

The Pleasant Hill radar (KEAX), 102 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:59 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Benton

When: May 17, 9:00 PM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Benton County, 5 mi N of Warsaw
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 38.295, -93.288 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Missouri in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings 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: 5600918.