Flash Flood and Flooding in Missouri, June 27 to 28, 1999

Name: Flash Flood and Flooding in Missouri, June 27 to 28, 1999
Start: 1999-06-27T05:45
End: 1999-06-28T11:00
Location: Missouri

June 27 to 28, 1999 · NWS EAX · 11 events in 6 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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: $555,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 11

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.

Northwest and west-central Missouri were battered by three separate rounds of thunderstorms on June 27 and 28. The first cluster of storms moved through on the morning of the 27th, producing isolated incidents of wind damage. During the afternoon, storms continued to redevelop over northeastern Kansas and track eastward into west-central Missouri. By late afternoon, the storm track had shifted southward into the Kansas City metro area. These rains on top of already saturated ground began to produce flooding problems. Storms continued to track across the Kansas City area during the evening, bringing rain totals to nearly 3 inches in some parts of the metro area by 10 pm. South of Kansas City, the late-night storms produced wind damage, downing trees in Bates and Henry Counties. Just in time for Kansas City's Monday morning rush hour on the 28th, another cluster of thunderstorms moved through the metro area. These storms caused wind damage, downing trees in parts of Jackson and Cass Counties. Rainfall rates around 2 inches per hour were reported in some parts of the Kansas City area, and widespread urban and flash flooding resulted. Storm total rainfall amounts across northwest and west-central Missouri were generally 3 inches or greater. The hardest hit areas in the Kansas City metro area were near the Missouri River. Kansas City Downtown Airport recorded 5.02 inches of rain, and 5.55 inches of rain fell in Independence. Southern Johnson and northern Henry counties in west-central Missouri recorded some of the highest rainfall totals in west-central Missouri. In Henry County, Blairstown received 6.41 inches, Clinton reported 5.91", Urich had 4.98", and 4.25 inches of rain fell in Windsor. In Johnson County, 5.50 inches fell at Kingsville, and 4.67 inches were recorded at Whiteman Air Force Base.

The radar

The Omaha radar (KOAX), 120 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:42 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 thunderstorm wind, 3 flood, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Atchison

When: June 27, 5:45 AM CST
Where: Atchison County, 2 mi W of Phelps City
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.400, -95.630

Large tree limbs were downed by thunderstorm winds.

Thunderstorm Wind, Johnson

When: June 27, 9:35 AM CST
Where: Johnson County, Holden to 7 mi S of Holden
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.600, -94.000

A trailer was destroyed, and another home sustained roof damage.

Flood, Jackson

When: June 27, 3:00 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, Countywide
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 39.009, -94.346 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

With the ground already wet from approximately an inch of rain earlier in the day, another wave of thunderstorms moved through the Kansas City metro area during the mid-afternoon hours. Between 4 and 5 pm CDT, the Kansas City Downtown Airport recorded 1.11 inches of rain. Urban flooding necessitated numerous road closings and multiple water rescues were performed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Henry

When: June 27, 9:45 PM CST
Where: Henry County, Windsor
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.530, -93.530

A tree was knocked down onto a house.

Flood, Jackson

When: June 28, 12:00 AM CST to 1:30 AM CST
Where: Jackson County, Lees Summit
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
Coordinates: 39.009, -94.346 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A late-night round of thunderstorms, mainly in southern portions of the Kansas City metro, triggered more urban flooding. Approximately 10 townhomes in a subdivision in Lees Summit were damaged by floodwaters.

Thunderstorm Wind, Bates

When: June 28, 12:30 AM CST
Where: Bates County, Butler
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.250, -94.330

A transformer was destroyed and trees were downed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Bates

When: June 28, 12:30 AM CST
Where: Bates County, 10 mi W of Foster
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.170, -94.700

Trees were downed by thunderstorm winds.

Flood, Cass

When: June 28, 12:30 AM CST
Where: Cass County, Archie
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 38.647, -94.355 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy rainfall from late-night thunderstorms produced urban flooding in the town of Archie. The area around City Hall and a city park were flooded. Standing water was reported inside the city hall, and a police cruiser parked outside was damaged by the flood waters.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cass

When: June 28, 7:36 AM CST
Where: Cass County, Drexel
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.480, -94.600

Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson

When: June 28, 8:00 AM CST to 8:05 AM CST
Where: Jackson County, Countywide
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.030, -94.370

Numerous reports of downed trees were received from around Jackson County, including Kansas City, Lees Summit, and Blue Springs.

Flash Flood, Jackson

When: June 28, 8:15 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where: Jackson County, Countywide
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 39.009, -94.346 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

After the storms of the 27th had already dumped upwards of 3 inches of rain on portions of the Kansas City metro area, another complex of storms moved through on the morning of the 28th. The downtown Kansas City airport received 2.10 inches of rain on the 28th, including 1.87 inches in a period of 38 minutes. Significant urban and flash flooding resulted in the metro area, primarily south of the Missouri River. Approximately 100 roads were closed by high water, which was as deep as 5 feet in some locations. The Kansas City Fire Department responded to 88 flood-related emergency calls between 8 am and noon. Numerous vehicle rescues were reported in Kansas City and Blue Springs.

What these are

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.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
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 1999 Every state in 1999 This day in weather history Warnings in Missouri, June 1999

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: 5706404, 5706405, 5706459, 5706406, 5706460, 5706407, 5706408, 5706462, 5706409, 5706458, 5706461.