Flash Flood and Hail in Kansas, June 12, 2004

Name: Flash Flood and Hail in Kansas, June 12, 2004
Start: 2004-06-12T20:45
End: 2004-06-12T23:00
Location: Kansas

June 12, 2004 · NWS TOP · 8 events in 6 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $14,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 8

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 TOP wrote it up.

Thunderstorms developed over the area late in the afternoon of the 12th and continued well into the evening hours. Many of the storms became severe and produced numerous reports of large hail and damaging winds. Many power lines were downed leaving many residents without power for a time. A number of farm buildings were destroyed or damaged. Flash flooding was also reported for a time in Dickinson and Republic counties.

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 Topeka, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 12, 2:38 PM CST, 6 hours 7 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 12, 2:38 PM CST, 6 hours 7 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
338 PM CDT SAT JUN 12 2004

.DISCUSSION...
FORECAST CONCERN IS SQUARELY ON SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL IN THE
SHORT TERM. THERE ARE MANY VARIABLES STILL TO EVOLVE WITH RESPECT TO
EXPECTED CONVECTION AND HOW THAT WILL PLAY INTO THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS.
THEREFOR CONFIDENCE IS LOW...ESPECIALLY FOR NEXT WEEK.

THE DRYLINE HAS SET UP ACROSS CENTRAL KS THIS AFTERNOON WITH A MOIST
AND VERY UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. A SHORTWAVE
IS CURRENTLY MOVING INTO THE TX PANHANDLE AND TOWERING CU COULD BE
SEEN AT 20Z ALONG THE DRYLINE IN OK AND NORTH CENTRAL KS.
THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ALONG THIS DRYLINE OVER THE
NEXT SEVERAL HOURS AS THE SHORTWAVE CONTINUES TO PROPAGATE
NORTHEAST. THE 18Z SOUNDING SHOWED MORE THAN ENOUGH CAPE AVAILABLE
WITH A FAVORABLE SHEER PROFILE FOR THUNDERSTORMS TO QUICKLY BECOME
SEVERE. VERY LARGE HAIL AND TORNADOES COULD OCCUR WITH THE STORMS.
ADDITIONALLY...SOUNDINGS INDICATE THAT PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES ARE
AROUND 1.5 INCHES SUGGESTING VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL OCCUR WITH THE
STORMS. GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF MOISTURE AVAILABLE...HAVE DECIDED TO
ISSUE A FLOOD WATCH FOR THE EASTERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA FOR
TONIGHT.

THE GFS SUFFERS FROM CONVECTIVE FEED BACK BEYOND TONIGHT PRETTY
BADLY...GENERATING AN MCS SOMEWHERE IN THE CENTRAL PLAINS SUNDAY
NIGHT AND MONDAY NIGHT. THIS HAS ALSO AFFECTED ITS SURFACE AND UPPER
AIR PATTERN AND HAVE NOT USED ITS SOLUTION BECAUSE OF THIS. HAVE
FOLLOWED THE ETA MORE CLOSELY WHICH ALSO INDICATES THUNDERSTORM
CHANCES CONTINUING FOR SEVERAL DAYS BUT DOES NOT HAVE THE BULLS EYES
OF QPF. THE SYNOPTIC PATTERN TRENDS TOWARDS A MORE ZONAL FLOW
THROUGH TUESDAY AND THE AIRMASS IS NOT EXPECTED TO CHANGE MUCH OVER
THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS. THE ETA SHOWS THE MORE LIKELY DEVELOPMENT FOR
SUNDAY NIGHT EAST OF THE FORECAST AREA WITH ANOTHER POSSIBLE MCS
OVER NORTHERN KS MONDAY NIGHT. I HAVE THE POP FORECAST TO REFLECT
THIS.

AFTER TUESDAY THE MEDIUM RANGE MODELS SHOW A WEAK COLD FRONT MOVING
SOUTH THROUGH THE FORECAST AREA ON WEDNESDAY. THIS IS DUE TO THE
PATTERN BECOMING MORE AMPLIFIED WITH A RIDGE ACROSS THE WEST COAST
AND HEIGHT FALLS OVER THE PLAINS. HAVE INSERTED SLIGHT CHANCE POPS
FOR WEDNESDAY  THINKING THE FRONT WILL PROVIDE A FOCUS FOR
CONVECTION TO DEVELOP. ALSO HAVE SOME SLIGHT CHANCE POPS NEAR THE
NEB STATE LINE FOR TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT AS THE FRONT SLOWLY
APPROACHES. AFTER WEDNESDAY MODELS SUGGEST A SURFACE RIDGE ACROSS
THE AREA WITH ANOTHER FRONT POSSIBLY MOVING SOUTH FRIDAY NIGHT.
THINK THE GFS IS SPREADING PRECIP TO FAR NORTH OF THE
FRONT...ESPECIALLY ON SATURDAY AND HAVE LEFT THE FORECAST DRY FOR
NOW. TEMPERATURES FOR WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY ARE FORECAST TO BE
IN THE LOWER 80S...BELOW NORMAL...DUE TO THE SURFACE RIDGE AND
NORTHWEST FLOW.

WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THIS FORECAST GOES THROUGH SEVERAL CHANGES
OVER THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS. ALSO IF MCS DEVELOPMENT OCCURS AS THE
GFS IS SHOWING...FLOODING CONCERNS WILL QUICKLY BE ON THE RISE.

&&

.TOP...WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FLOOD WATCH FOR TONIGHT ACROSS EAST CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST KANSAS
KSZ010>012-022>024-026-036>040-054>056-058-059.

&&

WOLTERS

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 12, 3:32 PM CST, 5 hours 13 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED WORDING IN DAY 2 TRU 7 SECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
432 PM CDT SAT JUN 12 2004

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE AREA
THIS AFTERNOON AND BECOME MORE NUMEROUS OVER THE AREA TONIGHT. SOME
OF THE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS
THE PRIMARY THREAT...ALTHOUGH A FEW TORNADOES MAY ALSO OCCUR.

KSZ008>012-020>024-026-034>040-054>056-058-059-131000-
ANDERSON-BROWN-CLAY-CLOUD-COFFEY-DICKINSON-DOUGLAS-FRANKLIN-GEARY-
JACKSON-JEFFERSON-LYON-MARSHALL-MORRIS-NEMAHA-OSAGE-OTTAWA-
POTTAWATOMIE-REPUBLIC-RILEY-SHAWNEE-WABAUNSEE-WASHINGTON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ABILENE...CLAY CENTER...CONCORDIA...
EMPORIA...HIAWATHA...JUNCTION CITY...LAWRENCE...MANHATTAN...
MARYSVILLE...OTTAWA AND TOPEKA
432 PM CDT SAT JUN 12 2004

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL...NORTHEAST AND
EAST CENTRAL KANSAS.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HAIL 1.5 INCHES OR GREATER IN
DIAMETER...DAMAGING WINDS OVER 70 MPH AND A FEW LARGE TORNADOES ARE
DEVELOPING OVER CENTRAL KANSAS. THESE STORMS WILL MOVE TO THE EAST
ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS LATE THIS AFTERNOON...AND INTO NORTHEAST
AND EAST CENTRAL KANSAS AFTER 6 PM.  AS THESE STORMS MOVE EAST...THEY
ARE EXPECTED TO EVOLVE INTO A CLUSTER OF STORMS LATE THIS EVENING AND
COULD PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAIN IN A SHORT TIME CREATING FLASH
FLOODING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

THUNDERSTORM CHANCES CONTINUE FOR SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY. SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS WILL AGAIN BE POSSIBLE WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING
WINDS. THE RISK FOR WIDE SPREAD FLOODING WILL BE ON THE INCREASE
SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY NIGHT IF THUNDERSTORMS REDEVELOP OVER THE
SAME AREAS.

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ON WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS SHOULD BE ACTIVATED ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS NOW.
SPOTTERS WILL BE NEEDED AFTER 6 PM OVER NORTHEAST AND EAST CENTRAL
KANSAS.

&&

MORE INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGE:
   HTTP://WWW.CRH.NOAA.GOV/TOP  (ALL LOWER CASE)

WOLTERS

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 12, 8:18 PM CST, 27 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
918 PM CDT SAT JUN 12 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0900 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 W VALLEY FALLS        39.34N 95.53W
06/12/2004                   JEFFERSON          KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            SIDING BLOWN OFF HOUSE.

&&

DS

Local storm report, Jun 12, 8:25 PM CST, 20 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
925 PM CDT SAT JUN 12 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0923 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MCLOUTH                 39.20N 95.21W
06/12/2004                   JEFFERSON          KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            NUMEROUS REPORTS OF TREES DOWN AND POWER OUTAGES.

&&

DS

Local storm report, Jun 12, 8:32 PM CST, 13 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
932 PM CDT SAT JUN 12 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0930 PM     TSTM WND GST     WINCHESTER              39.32N 95.27W
06/12/2004  60 MPH           JEFFERSON          KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

&&

DS

Local storm report, Jun 12, 8:36 PM CST, 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
936 PM CDT SAT JUN 12 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0935 PM     HAIL             5 W CLAY CENTER         39.38N 97.22W
06/12/2004  0.88 INCH        CLAY               KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

&&

DS

Local storm report, Jun 12, 8:41 PM CST, 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
941 PM CDT SAT JUN 12 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0939 PM     HAIL             MILTONVALE              39.35N 97.45W
06/12/2004  0.88 INCH        CLOUD              KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

&&

DS

Local storm report, Jun 12, 8:45 PM CST, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
945 PM CDT SAT JUN 12 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0945 PM     HAIL             ABILENE                 38.92N 97.21W
06/12/2004  1.00 INCH        DICKINSON          KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

&&

DS

The radar

The Topeka radar (KTWX), 86 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:43 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 strong wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Dickinson

When: June 12, 8:45 PM CST
Where: Dickinson County, Abilene
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.917, -97.217

Thunderstorm Wind, Osage

When: June 12, 9:00 PM CST
Where: Osage County, Lyndon
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $4,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.617, -95.683

Strong winds blew shutters off of a house.

Hail, Riley

When: June 12, 9:05 PM CST
Where: Riley County, 5 mi S of Randolph
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 39.367, -96.767

Hail, Wabaunsee

When: June 12, 9:08 PM CST
Where: Wabaunsee County, 3 mi N of Eskridge
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.900, -96.100

Hail, Riley

When: June 12, 9:29 PM CST
Where: Riley County, Manhattan
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 39.183, -96.583

Hail, Pottawatomie

When: June 12, 9:38 PM CST
Where: Pottawatomie County, 3 mi SW of Emmett
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.267, -96.083

Strong Wind, Morris

When: June 12, 9:40 PM CST
Where: Morris forecast zone
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 38.687, -96.650 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong winds lifted a 24 foot by 30 foot shed off its foundation, moved it 30 feet and dropped it on a semi trailer. The semi was damaged but the contents in the shed remained intact.

Flash Flood, Dickinson

When: June 12, 10:35 PM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Dickinson County, 2 mi W of Hope
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.867, -97.153 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Water was reported flowing over K4 highway west of Hope.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
Strong Wind: Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.
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 Kansas in 2004 Every state in 2004 This day in weather history Warnings in Kansas, June 2004

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: 5406063, 5406064, 5406065, 5406066, 5406067, 5406068, 5406069, 5406070.