Missouri, 1998

Flash Flooding in Missouri, January 4 to 5, 1998

January 4 to 5, 1998 · NWS SGF · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

Widespread heavy rainfall occurred over much of extreme southern Missouri from the late morning hours of Sunday January 4th into the early morning hours of Monday January 5th. Widespread rain totals of one to three inches occurred with locally higher amounts in the Branson area.

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 SGF wrote it up.

Widespread heavy rainfall occurred over much of extreme southern Missouri from the late morning hours of Sunday January 4th into the early morning hours of Monday January 5th. Widespread rain totals of one to three inches occurred with locally higher amounts in the Branson area. This rain falling on saturated ground caused widespread flooding of low water crossings. Many highways that cross low water crossings or creeks were temporarily closed in the region. No serious damage or accidents were reported.

The radar

The Springfield radar (KSGF), 108 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:58 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, McDonald

When
January 4, 10:00 AM CST to 2:00 PM CST
Where
McDonald County, Countywide
Coordinates
36.629, -94.348 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Newton

When
January 4, 10:00 AM CST to 2:00 PM CST
Where
Newton County, Countywide
Coordinates
36.906, -94.339 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Barry

When
January 4, 12:40 PM CST to 2:00 PM CST
Where
Barry County, Countywide
Coordinates
36.710, -93.829 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Stone

When
January 4, 1:15 PM CST to 3:00 PM CST
Where
Stone County, Countywide
Coordinates
36.747, -93.456 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Howell

When
January 4, 5:00 PM CST to January 5, 3:00 AM CST
Where
Howell County, Countywide
Coordinates
36.774, -91.886 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Ozark

When
January 4, 5:00 PM CST to January 5, 3:00 AM CST
Where
Ozark County, Countywide
Coordinates
36.649, -92.445 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Taney

When
January 4, 8:00 PM CST to January 5, 3:00 AM CST
Where
Taney County, Countywide
Coordinates
36.655, -93.041 (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

More

Every storm in Missouri in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Missouri, January 1998

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: 5629336, 5629337, 5629338, 5629339, 5629340, 5629341, 5629342.