Flood, McDonald
- When
- February 24, 12:42 PM CST to 8:00 PM CST
- Where
- McDonald forecast zone
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.629, -94.348 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flooding in Missouri, February 24, 2001
A strong storm system produced copious amounts of rainfall over a large area of southern Missouri. The heavy rain caused numerous low water crossings, streams, creeks, small rivers, and roads to flood across a wide area through the period.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 13 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 13
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.
A strong storm system produced copious amounts of rainfall over a large area of southern Missouri. The heavy rain caused numerous low water crossings, streams, creeks, small rivers, and roads to flood across a wide area through the period. The most significant flooding occurred along Indian Creek and Elk River in southwest Missouri, as well as the Finley River. As many of the tributaries throughout southern Missouri flooded, significant river flooding developed and lasted for two to three days.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Springfield, MO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 24, 12:00 PM CST, 42 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Feb 24, 12:00 PM CST, 42 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD MO 1200 PM CST SAT FEB 24 2001 SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND FLOODING CONTINUE TO BE MAJOR CONCERNS. 88D VWP...COMBINED WITH PROFILER DATA AND PRELIMINARY 18Z SGF SOUNDING DATA INDICATE STRONGLY VEERING PROFILE WITH WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70 KNOTS AT ONLY 3KFT AGL. ONLY LIMITING FACTOR REMAINS SURFACE DESTABILIZATION...WHICH HAS BEEN SLOW TO OCCUR GIVEN ONGOING ELEVATED CONVECTION THIS MORNING. SMALL RIBBON OF WARM...MOIST AIR WILL NOSE NORTH JUST AHEAD OF SQUALL LINE...AND SHOULD PROVIDE ENOUGH INSTABILITY TO MIX SEVERE CRITERIA WINDS TO THE SURFACE. FEEL MAIN THREAT AT THIS TIME WILL BE STRAIGHT LINE WIND DAMAGE WITH BOW SEGMENTS EMBEDDED IN SQUALL LINE...BUT WITH LOW FREEZING LEVEL...MARGINALLY SEVERE HAIL IS ALSO POSSIBLE. TORNADO THREAT SHOULD BE MINIMAL GIVEN LACK OF HIGH THETA-E AIR IN BOUNDARY LAYER...BUT GIVEN SHEAR PROFILE...WOULD NOT RULE OUT AT THIS TIME. IN ADDITION...TWO TO THREE INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA THIS MORNING...AND EXPECT ANOTHER QUICK SHOT OF HEAVY RAIN WITH THE SQUALL LINE. HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED REPORTS OF MINOR FLOODING OF CREEKS...STREAMS...AND LOW WATER CROSSINGS...AND WILL CONTINUE FLASH FLOOD WATCH INTO EARLY EVENING. THINK MOST AREAS WILL SEE AN ADDITIONAL 0.50 TO 1 INCH OF RAINFALL...WHICH WILL ONLY AGGRAVATE THE FLOOD THREAT. WILL NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES TO FORECAST AT THIS TIME. ZONES HAVE BEEN UPDATED TO INCLUDE TORNADO WATCH #30. BOOKBINDER
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Feb 24, 11:20 AM CST, 1 hour 22 minutes before
KSZ097-101-MOZ077-079>082-088>097-101>105-242300- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...TORNADO WATCH #30 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD MO 1120 AM CST SAT FEB 24 2001 THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OKLAHOMA HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH...EFFECTIVE UNTIL 5 PM....FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST KANSAS... SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL MISSOURI. THIS WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... IN KANSAS...CRAWFORD AND CHEROKEE. IN MISSOURI..BARRY...BARTON...CHRISTIAN...DADE...DALLAS...DOUGLAS... GREENE...HOWELL...JAPSER...LACLEDE...LAWRENCE...MCDONALD...NEWTON... OZARK...POLK...STONE...TANEY...TEXAS...WEBSTER..AND WRIGHT. A TORNADO WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...AND POSSIBLE TORNADOES. A SQUALL LINE ACROSS EASTERN OKLAHOMA WILL INTENSIFY AS IT MOVES EAST INTO SOUTHEAST KANSAS AND THE MISSOURI OZARKS. WIDESPREAD WIND DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE ALL POSSIBLE WITH THIS SQUALL LINE. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO OR TELEVISION STATIONS...OR YOUR CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE PROVIDER FOR LATER STATEMENTS CONCERNING THIS DANGEROUS SEVERE WEATHER THREAT. BOOKBIPNDER
Special weather statement, Feb 24, 11:20 AM CST, 1 hour 22 minutes before
KSZ097-101-MOZ077-079>082-088>097-101>105-242300- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...TORNADO WATCH 30 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD MO 1120 AM CST SAT FEB 24 2001 THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OKLAHOMA HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH...EFFECTIVE UNTIL 5 PM....FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST KANSAS... SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL MISSOURI. THIS WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... IN KANSAS...CRAWFORD AND CHEROKEE. IN MISSOURI...BARRY...BARTON...CHRISTIAN...DADE...DALLAS...DOUGLAS... GREENE...HOWELL...JASPER...LACLEDE...LAWRENCE...MCDONALD...NEWTON... OZARK...POLK...STONE...TANEY...TEXAS...WEBSTER...AND WRIGHT. A TORNADO WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...AND POSSIBLE TORNADOES. A SQUALL LINE ACROSS EASTERN OKLAHOMA WILL INTENSIFY AS IT MOVES EAST INTO SOUTHEAST KANSAS AND THE MISSOURI OZARKS. WIDESPREAD WIND DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE ALL POSSIBLE WITH THIS SQUALL LINE. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO OR TELEVISION STATIONS...OR YOUR CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE PROVIDER FOR LATER STATEMENTS CONCERNING THIS DANGEROUS SEVERE WEATHER THREAT. BOOKBINDER
Special weather statement, Feb 24, 12:16 PM CST, 26 minutes before
KSZ097-101-MOZ077-079>082-088>097-101>105-242300- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...TORNADO WATCH #30 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD MO 1120 AM CST SAT FEB 24 2001 THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OKLAHOMA HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH...EFFECTIVE UNTIL 5 PM....FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST KANSAS... SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL MISSOURI. THIS WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... IN KANSAS...CRAWFORD AND CHEROKEE. IN MISSOURI...BARRY...BARTON...CHRISTIAN...DADE...DALLAS...DOUGLAS... GREENE...HOWELL...JASPER...LACLEDE...LAWRENCE...MCDONALD...NEWTON... OZARK...POLK...STONE...TANEY...TEXAS...WEBSTER...AND WRIGHT. A TORNADO WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...AND POSSIBLE TORNADOES. A SQUALL LINE ACROSS EASTERN OKLAHOMA WILL INTENSIFY AS IT MOVES EAST INTO SOUTHEAST KANSAS AND THE MISSOURI OZARKS. WIDESPREAD WIND DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE ALL POSSIBLE WITH THIS SQUALL LINE. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO OR TELEVISION STATIONS...OR YOUR CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE PROVIDER FOR LATER STATEMENTS CONCERNING THIS DANGEROUS SEVERE WEATHER THREAT. BBOOKBINDER
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
13 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Flood, Newton
- When
- February 24, 1:04 PM CST to 8:00 PM CST
- Where
- Newton forecast zone
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.906, -94.339 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flood, Barry
- When
- February 24, 1:33 PM CST to 8:00 PM CST
- Where
- Barry forecast zone
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.710, -93.829 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flood, Stone
- When
- February 24, 2:20 PM CST to 8:00 PM CST
- Where
- Stone forecast zone
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.747, -93.456 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flood, Greene
- When
- February 24, 2:20 PM CST to 8:00 PM CST
- Where
- Greene forecast zone
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 37.258, -93.342 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flood, Christian
- When
- February 24, 2:46 PM CST to 8:00 PM CST
- Where
- Christian forecast zone
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.970, -93.189 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flood, Jasper
- When
- February 24, 4:31 PM CST to 8:00 PM CST
- Where
- Jasper forecast zone
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 37.204, -94.341 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flood, Lawrence
- When
- February 24, 4:39 PM CST to 8:00 PM CST
- Where
- Lawrence forecast zone
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 37.106, -93.833 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flood, Barton
- When
- February 24, 4:43 PM CST to 8:00 PM CST
- Where
- Barton forecast zone
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 37.502, -94.347 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flood, Ozark
- When
- February 24, 5:00 PM CST to 8:00 PM CST
- Where
- Ozark forecast zone
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.649, -92.445 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flood, Douglas
- When
- February 24, 5:30 PM CST to 8:00 PM CST
- Where
- Douglas forecast zone
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.933, -92.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flood, Howell
- When
- February 24, 6:00 PM CST to 8:00 PM CST
- Where
- Howell forecast zone
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 36.774, -91.886 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flood, Texas
- When
- February 24, 6:00 PM CST to 8:00 PM CST
- Where
- Texas forecast zone
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 37.317, -91.965 (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
- Tornadoes and Hail in Mississippi, February 24, 2001
- Tornadoes in Mississippi, February 24, 2001
- Tornado in Arkansas, February 24, 2001
- Tornado in Arkansas, February 24, 2001
- Tornadoes in Mississippi, February 24, 2001
- Tornadoes and Hail in Arkansas, February 24, 2001
- Damaging Winds in Texas, February 24, 2001
- Tornado in Arkansas, February 24, 2001
- Flash Flood in Kansas, February 24, 2001
- Lightning Strike in Illinois, February 24, 2001
- Tornado in Arkansas, February 24, 2001
- Tornado in Arkansas, February 24, 2001
More
Every storm in Missouri in 2001Every state in 2001This day in weather historyWarnings in Missouri, February 2001
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: 5234826, 5234827, 5234830, 5234832, 5234834, 5234833, 5234829, 5234831, 5234828, 5234837, 5234835, 5234836, 5234838.