After a break of several weeks, very heavy rain producing thunderstorms again rolled over a number of counties during the evening and early morning hours. Dickinson County again was hit hard for the second time in the month with significant flooding along the Smoky Hill river.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS TOP wrote it up.
After a break of several weeks, very heavy rain producing thunderstorms again rolled over a number of counties during the evening and early morning hours. Dickinson County again was hit hard for the second time in the month with significant flooding along the Smoky Hill river. Due to saturated soils, runoff was considerable. Thus, several of the major streams and rivers went above flood stage for several days thereafter. Rainfall totals were mostly in the two to four inch range...however, four to six inches were noted in parts of Marshall, Riley, Clay and Dickinson counties. Clay and Ottawa counties qualified for FEMA funds.
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 May 23, 4:04 PM CST, 3 hours 22 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 504 PM CDT WED MAY 23 2007 .DISCUSSION... TONIGHT AND THURSDAY...BIGGEST THREAT BEYOND SVR THIS EVENING IS THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY RAIN. ALL SIGNS POINT TO THIS INCLUDING HIGH PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES BETWEEN 150 AND 200% OF NORMAL, INFLOW TO SFC FNT, APPCH OF STG UPPER SYSTEM FROM THE SOUTHWEST AND POTENTIAL TRAINING OF ECHOES OVER WATCH AREA. ONLY CONCERN IS WHETHER PRECURSOR SEVERE WEATHER AND ANY COLD POOL OUTFLOWS MAY SHIFT AXIS OF HEAVIEST RAIN FURTHER SOUTHEAST LATER TONIGHT. EVENING SHIFT WILL NEED TO WATCH THIS AND MAY NEED TO ADJUST WATCH AREA ACCORDINGLY. AM FOLLOWING GFS ON FRONTAL PASSAGE ON THURSDAY AND THIS SHOULD BRING AN END TO PCPN MOST OF AREA BY AFTN. SOME QUESTION ON LINGERING PCPN SERN CWA BUT HAVE TRIED TO BLEND FCST WITH NEIGHBORS SINCE IS A BIT UNCLEAR JUST WHERE ENOUGH LIFT WILL BRING RESIDUAL SHOWERS YET LATE TMRW AFTN. TEMPERATURES SHOULD RECOVER A BIT ON THURSDAY...COULD BE EVEN WARMER OVER NORTHWEST CWA IF ENOUGH SOLAR INSOLATION OCCURS BEHIND PRECIPITATION AREA. SK CONCERNS FOR THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY IS EXTENT FRONT WILL GET PUSHED TO THE SOUTH AS THE UPPER WAVE AND ITS LIFT EJECTS TO THE NORTHEAST. NAM LINGERS SOME PRECIP CHANCES ALONG AND A LITTLE BEHIND THE FRONT INTO THE EVENING HOURS THURSDAY...WHILE THE GFS PUSHES PRECIP SOUTH AND EAST. AFTER COORDINATION...HAVE LEFT SOME LOW POPS FOR THE SOUTHEAST CORNER COUNTIES FOR THURSDAY EVENING AND FRIDAY MORNING. LOWS FRIDAY MORNING FROM THE UPPER 40S NORTH TO LOWER 50S SOUTH. FOR FRIDAY AFTERNOON...FRONTAL BOUNDARY STALLS TO THE SOUTH. WITH SOME FOCUS FOR CONVERGENCE AND FLOW ALOFT IN WAKE OF DEPARTING SHORTWAVE TURNS WEST TO SOUTHWESTERLY...AND HINTS OF WEAK EMBEDDED SHORTWAVE ENERGY ALONG WITH SOME INSTABILITY FOR THE AFTERNOON...HAVE KEPT SOME LOW CHANCE POPS OVER THE SOUTHERN COUNTIES. HIGHS FRIDAY GENERALLY IN THE MIDDLE 70S. PRECIPITATION CHANCES INCREASE ACROSS THE CWA OVER THE WEEKEND AGAIN AS A NORTHERN STREAM SHORTWAVE PUSHES ACROSS THE AREA. LIFT FROM THIS FEATURE AND RESIDUAL MOISTURE/INSTABILITY ALONG OLD FRONTAL BOUNDARY ALL CONTRIBUTE TO PRECIPITATION CHANCES IN THE 30 TO 50 PERCENT RANGE WITH THE BETTER CHANCES DURING THE DAY SATURDAY. PRECIPITATION CHANCE LINGER INTO SUNDAY BUT SHOULD BE MAINLY IN THE MORNING. HIGHS OVER THE WEEKEND IN THE MID TO UPPER 70S. THE MEMORIAL DAY INTO WEDNESDAY FORECAST UNFORTUNATELY CONTINUES THE ABOVE PATTERN WITH MODELS HINTING OF SEVERAL SHORTWAVES MOVING ACROSS THE AREA...COMBINED WITH SOMEWHAT MOIST AND UNSTABLE SURFACE CONDITIONS. BETTER CHANCES FOR PRECIP AT THIS TIME APPEAR MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY NIGHT. HIGHS MONDAY AND TUESDAY IN THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 80S. FLOW TURNS MORE NORTHWESTERLY TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY WITH SOME THICKNESS COOLING. HAVE HIGHS WEDNESDAY IN THE IN THE UPPER 70S TO LOWER 80S. PF && .AVIATION... CONVECTION ACROSS NE KANSAS THE PRIMARY CHALLENGE FOR 18Z TAFS. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED ALONG A BOUNDARY STRETCHING NE TO SW JUST TO THE EAST OF MHK. VCTS AT MHK THROUGH THE AFTERNOON...WITH -TSRA BEGINNING EARLY THIS EVENING. SIMILAR AT TOP AND FOE...THOUGH A BIT LATER WITH TIMING AND LESSER COVERAGE. WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO BE GUSTY THROUGH THE AFTERNOON...AND WILL NOT TAPER OFF MUCH BY MORNING AHEAD OF FROPA AROUND 14Z AT MHK AND 15Z AT TOP AND FOE. POSSIBILITY OF LLWS WITH FROPA...BUT LEFT OUT FOR NOW FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS BY LATER SHIFTS. EK && .TOP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY MORNING FOR AREAS GENERALLY WEST OF AN HERINGTON...MANHATTAN TO SENECA LINE. KSZ008>010-020>022-034-035 CORRECTED WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES SECTION AND INCLUDED COUNTY ZONE NUMBERS. PF
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 440 PM CDT WED MAY 23 2007 KSZ008>012-020>024-026-034>040-054>056-058-059-242145- REPUBLIC-WASHINGTON-MARSHALL-NEMAHA-BROWN-CLOUD-CLAY-RILEY- POTTAWATOMIE-JACKSON-JEFFERSON-OTTAWA-DICKINSON-GEARY-MORRIS- WABAUNSEE-SHAWNEE-DOUGLAS-LYON-OSAGE-FRANKLIN-COFFEY-ANDERSON- 440 PM CDT WED MAY 23 2007 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL...NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST KANSAS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT A FRONTAL BOUNDARY OVER CENTRAL KANSAS WILL GRADUALLY WORK EAST OVERNIGHT AS A COLD FRONT. THE FRONT INTERACTING WITH A VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS...WILL RESULT IN STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE AREA...ALONG WITH AT TIMES...VERY HEAVY RAINFALL. LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE THE PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER THREAT... BUT AN ISOLATED TORNADO COULD NOT BE RULED OUT THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS. RAINFALL AMOUNTS IN THE 2 TO 4 INCH RANGE ARE POSSIBLE WHERE THE STRONGER STORMS PERSIST OR REGENERATE AND MOVE ACROSS THE SAME AREA. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS POSTED FOR AREAS GENERALLY WEST OF A HERINGTON...MANHATTAN TO SENECA LINE. DEPENDING ON THE MOVEMENT OF THE FRONT OVERNIGHT...THIS WATCH MAY NEED TO BE ADJUSTED FURTHER EAST. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE ONGOING THURSDAY MORNING WITH SOME STILL HAVING THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAIN. THESE STORMS WILL THEN DIMINISH BY MIDDAY NORTH AND WEST OF THE TURNPIKE. THERE IS A LINGERING THREAT FOR THUNDERSTORMS SOUTHEAST OF THE TURNPIKE THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND OVER THE EXTREME SOUTHEAST PORTIONS OF THE AREA...SOUTHEAST OF INTERSTATE 35 THURSDAY NIGHT. OFF AND ON THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL BE FOUND ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA FRIDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY NIGHT. THE BETTER CHANCES FOR MORE WIDESPREAD THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WILL BE SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS WILL BE NEEDED TONIGHT. SPOTTERS ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO REPORT RAINFALL AMOUNTS OVER ONE INCH TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA.
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 432 PM CDT WED MAY 23 2007 KSZ022-036-232200- GEARY-RILEY- 432 PM CDT WED MAY 23 2007 THROUGH 500 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHEASTERN RILEY AND EASTERN GEARY COUNTIES. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL OTHERWISE REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF GEARY AND RILEY COUNTIES. MOTORISTS ALONG INTERSTATE 70 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 298 AND 316 COULD ALSO BE AFFECTED. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT.
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 514 PM CDT WED MAY 23 2007 KSZ011-012-232315- BROWN-NEMAHA- 514 PM CDT WED MAY 23 2007 THROUGH 615 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH ACROSS PORTIONS OF EASTERN NEMAHA AND NORTHWEST BROWN COUNTIES. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL AND STRONG WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH. SOME COMMUNITIES THAT COULD BE AFFECTED INCLUDE SABETHA...ONEIDA AND MORRILL. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT.
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 622 PM CDT WED MAY 23 2007 KSZ008-009-020-034-232330- CLOUD-OTTAWA-REPUBLIC-WASHINGTON- 622 PM CDT WED MAY 23 2007 THROUGH 630 PM CDT...SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH ACROSS PORTIONS OF REPUBLIC...WESTERN WASHINGTON...CLOUD AND NORTHERN OTTAWA COUNTIES. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL...STRONG WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH AND HEAVY RAIN. SOME COMMUNITIES THAT COULD BE AFFECTED INCLUDE GLASCO...SCANDIA...REPUBLIC...NORWAY...NARKA...MUNDEN...MORROWVILLE.. .MAHASKA...JAMESTOWN...HADDAM...CUBA...COURTLAND...CONCORDIA...CLYDE. ..BELLEVILLE...AURORA AND AGENDA. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST.
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 633 PM CDT WED MAY 23 2007 KSZ011-012-024-240030- BROWN-JACKSON-NEMAHA- 633 PM CDT WED MAY 23 2007 THROUGH 730 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST NEMAHA...BROWN AND NORTHERN JACKSON COUNTIES. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL...STRONG WINDS OF 50 MPH AND HEAVY RAIN. SOME COMMUNITIES THAT COULD BE AFFECTED INCLUDE SOLDIER...GOFF...WETMORE...NETAWAKA...KICKAPOO RESERVATION...POWHATTAN...FAIRVIEW...MORRILL...HAMLIN...HIAWATHA... RESERVE AND IOWA SAC AND FOX RESERVATION. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
740 PM CDT WED MAY 23 2007
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0730 PM HAIL 2 SSW BURDICK 38.54N 96.86W
05/23/2007 M1.00 INCH MORRIS KS TRAINED SPOTTER
MOSTLY NICKEL, BUT A FEW LARGER QUARTER SIZE STONES.
&&
JLPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
806 PM CDT WED MAY 23 2007
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0800 PM HAIL WILSEY 38.64N 96.68W
05/23/2007 M1.00 INCH MORRIS KS TRAINED SPOTTER
QUARTER SIZE HAIL.
&&
JLThe Grand Island radar (KUEX), 89 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:24 UTC.
16 flash flood, 4 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Street flooding reported in Munden. 18 inches of water running over 220 Road near Munden. 8 to 10 inches of water over all of Main Street in south Belleville. Several other streets flooded in Belleville. Some cars stalled in the water.
Five inches of water flowing over the road near 1900 road and 56 highway. 1900 road underwater for about a half mile south of this area.
Water over road at 1400 rd and 56 highway. Water over road at various spots west on 56 highway to 2100 road. Estimated two feet of water over V road near 1500 road.
Six to eight inches of water flowing over 170th road near Bennington.
One foot of water flowing over Crawford street in town.
Moderate or greater flooding immediate reach of the gage vicinity of Niles with flooding of lowland areas and some county roads.
About 2 inches of water reported flowing across Fair rd. in town. Water over the road was rising and county officials were barricading the road.
Butterfield road in northeast Manhattan under water. Water over a number of street curbs in town. Some sandbagging occurring in town.
Highway 18 is closed 1/4 mile east of the junction with highway 15. A swift water rescue was performed.
Flash flooding due to over 4 inches of rain closed several roads on Ft. Riley.
Near Green Valley road at approximately the 4200 block on highway 24...drainage ditches full and spilling over onto the roadways. Water approaching highway 24 about 1/4 mile further east as well. County roads were flooded and some damaged. Some homes damaged by flood waters in the lake Elbo area.
A bridge in town that was recently built is currently 3 feet under water. On either side of the bridge, water is 15 to 20 feet deep. The town is isolated. Schools are cancelled.
East of Industry near the Clay/Dickinson county line...flood water 6 inches deep washing out Indian HIll road in Clay County. Several locations where up to 6 inches of water flowing over roads near the Dickinson County line.
Water moving onto Interstate 70 eastbound from the median to the shoulder of the fast lane at mile marker 275. Water over Highway 40 east of the town of Solomon...road closed. Dickinson County receives a county disaster declaration.
Seven Mile creek and Dry Branch creek flooding portions of the town of Ogden. Wildcat creek beginning to block portions of Scenic drive. Residents of approximately 50 homes are being evacuated...or being helped to move belongings to higher ground. Some sandbagging occurring. Schools were closed and Ogden was isolated for a period of time. Also, a portion of some railroad tracks were washed out around Ogden.
Rain road/State highway 206 closed one mile north of Chapman. Vehicles are stranded in Chapman with sandbagging and some evacuations made. Moderate or greater flooding on the Smoky Hill river through Abilene and Enterprise with widespread lowland flooding that closes some roads.
Highway 87 closed just off highway 9 near Vliets. Water over the roadway.
Moderate or greater flooding of Rock Creek in the vicinity of Louisville and the Kansas River in the vicinity of Wamego. Some lowland flooding and a few county roads closed.
Moderate or greater flooding vicinity of the gage on the Black Vermillion River near Frankfort. Lowland flooding with some county roads closed.
Approximately 6 inches of water flowing over highway 396. Water also flowing over County rd. 837. Both roads are closed. Clay county received a county disaster declaration.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2007Every state in 2007This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, May 2007
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: 33825, 31943, 31946, 31948, 31949, 34850, 31950, 31951, 31952, 33726, 31954, 31955, 31956, 31958, 31961, 31963, 31960, 34852, 34854, 31962.