An area of early morning thunderstorms, produced heavy rains across portions of east central Kansas, September 12, 2008. The heavy rains caused flash flooding in a few locations.
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 EAX wrote it up.
An area of early morning thunderstorms, produced heavy rains across portions of east central Kansas, September 12, 2008. The heavy rains caused flash flooding in a few locations.
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 Kansas City, MO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 12, 4:50 AM CST, 3 hours 55 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO
550 AM CDT FRI SEP 12 2008
...UPDATED AVIATION DISCUSSION...
.DISCUSSION...
PLACEMENT AND AMOUNTS OF QPF THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS CONTINUES TO BE
THE MAIN CHALLENGE IN THE SHORT TERM. ISENTROPIC LIFT ON THE 305-310K
SFC TRIGGERED A HEAVY BAND OF RAIN ACR NWRN MO OVERNIGHT...BUT THE
PRECIPITATION IS DIMINISHING AS THE LOW LEVEL JET VEERS AS PER PROFILERS.
A LARGER AREA OF RAIN WITH A FEW EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS WERE
DEVELOPING IN CNTRL/ERN KS INTO SWRN MO. THIS AREA OF RAIN IS IN AN
AREA OF MODEST ISENTROPIC LIFT AHEAD OF A WEAK SHORTWAVE MOVING INTO
SRN KS. THE ISENTROPIC LIFT IS BEING FOCUSED AHEAD OF AN IMPRESSIVE
H7-H5 THETAE RIDGE WITH PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES AROUND 2.25 INCHES.
NAM/GFS RATHER SIMILAR THE NEXT 48 HOURS AS THE ROCKIES UPPER TROUGH
SHEARS ENE TO THE NORTH OF THE CWA SATURDAY. AS PER MODELS...UPPER
TROUGH TO INDUCE CYCLOGENESIS IN NWRN MO THIS MORNING WITH THE SFC
WAVE MOVING ALONG THE INVERTED TROUGH IN XTRM NWRN MO TNGT AND EARLY SATURDAY.
THE MODELS APPEAR TO HAVE THE RIGHT IDEA AS PRESSURE FALLS HAVE BEEN
APPARENT IN NWRN OK.
NAM SUGGESTS THAT THE H8-H7 THETAE RIDGE WILL MOVE NORTH INTO CNTRL
MO TODAY WITH MODEST ISENTROPIC LIFT NORTH OF THE RIDGE.
THEREFORE...HIGHEST QPF WILL LIKELY BE FOCUSED ACROSS THE NWRN TWO
THIRDS OF THE CWA. AS THE SFC WAVE HEADS TOWARD IA TONIGHT...MODEST
ISENTROPIC LIFT IN A VERY MOISTURE RICH ENVIRONMENT WILL ONCE AGAIN
FOCUS HEAVY RAINFALL FOR NWRN MO. THE ISENTROPIC LIFT WILL SHIFT NE
INTO IA LATE FRIDAY NIGHT...ONLY TO BE REPLACED WITH DEEP LOW LEVEL
MOISTURE CONVERGENCE AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT WHICH WILL SWEEP INTO MO
SATURDAY MORNING.
AREAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS ALONG THE BOUNDARY LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH
SATURDAY NIGHT ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE AS HEAVY AS TNGT AS THE FORCING
IS NOT AS STRONG AND PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES GRADUALLY DECREASE. REGARDLESS...THE
FLOOD WATCH MAY NEED TO BE EXTENDED INTO THE DAY LIGHT HOURS ON
SATURDAY. WILL LET THE DAY SHIFT MAKE THE FINAL CALL. DESPITE THE
EMPHASIS NOW BEING PLACE ON NWRN MO FOR THE HEAVIEST RAIN...WILL
STILL KEEP THE FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR THE SERN GRIDS DUE TO LACK
OF CONFIDENCE ON THE HEAVIEST QPF PLACEMENT. IN ADDITION...LATEST
RADAR TRENDS SUGGEST THAT HEAVY RAINFALL IS LIKELY ACR THE SRN GRIDS
AT LEAST FOR A FEW HOURS EARLY THIS MORNING.
OTHERWISE...PREFER THE ECMWF/NAM AND UKMET ON THE HANDLING OF THE
FUTURE REMNANTS OF IKE. GFS HAS BUCKED THE LATEST TRENDS BY BEING
MUCH SLOWER AND FURTHER NW ON SUNDAY. REGARDLESS...THERE IS THE
POTENTIAL FOR ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAIN FOR THE EXTREME SERN CWA SATURDAY
NIGHT AND SUNDAY.
DB
&&
.AVIATION...
AREA OF LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN IS SPREADING NORTH INTO THE KC METRO
EARLY THIS MORNING. VFR/MVFR CIGS IN RAIN WILL GRADUALLY BECOME IFR
DUE TO SATURATION OF THE LOWER LEVELS. IN ADDITION...LOWER CIGS ABOUT
50 MILES SOUTH OF THE METRO WILL GRADUALLY SPREAD NORTH. RAIN WILL
GRADUALLY DIMINISH THIS AFTN WITH CIGS RISING TO BETWEEN 1000-2000
FEET. MVFR CIGS AND VSBYS WILL LIKELY LAST INTO THE EVENING...BEFORE
NEXT BATCH OF RAIN DROPS CIGS AND VSBYS ONCE AGAIN AFT 06Z.
DB
&&
.EAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MO...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 AM SATURDAY FOR MOZ001-MOZ002-MOZ003-MOZ004-
MOZ005-MOZ006-MOZ007-MOZ008-MOZ011-MOZ012-MOZ013-MOZ014-
MOZ015-MOZ016-MOZ017-MOZ020-MOZ021-MOZ022-MOZ023-MOZ024-
MOZ025-MOZ028-MOZ029-MOZ030-MOZ031-MOZ032-MOZ033-MOZ037-
MOZ038-MOZ039-MOZ040-MOZ043-MOZ044-MOZ045-MOZ046-MOZ053-
MOZ054.
KS...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 AM SATURDAY FOR KSZ025-KSZ057-KSZ060-KSZ102-
KSZ103-KSZ104-KSZ105.HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO 847 AM CDT FRI SEP 12 2008 KSZ025-057-060-102>105-MOZ001>008-011>017-020>025-028>033-037>040- 043>046-053-054-131400- ATCHISON KS-MIAMI-LINN KS-DONIPHAN-LEAVENWORTH-WYANDOTTE- JOHNSON KS-ATCHISON MO-NODAWAY-WORTH-GENTRY-HARRISON-MERCER- PUTNAM-SCHUYLER-HOLT-ANDREW-DE KALB-DAVIESS-GRUNDY-SULLIVAN-ADAIR- BUCHANAN-CLINTON-CALDWELL-LIVINGSTON-LINN MO-MACON-PLATTE-CLAY- RAY-CARROLL-CHARITON-RANDOLPH-JACKSON-LAFAYETTE-SALINE-HOWARD- CASS-JOHNSON MO-PETTIS-COOPER-BATES-HENRY- 847 AM CDT FRI SEP 12 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST...NORTH CENTRAL AND WEST CENTRAL MISSOURI...AS WELL AS EXTREME EASTERN KANSAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A SERIES OF UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES...A WEAK COLD FRONT AND COPIOUS TROPICAL MOISTURE WILL LEAD TO THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY RAINFALL THROUGH TONIGHT. ONE TO THREE INCHES OF RAIN HAVE ALREADY FALLEN ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE OUTLOOK AREA WITH AN ADDITIONAL ONE TO TWO INCHES POSSIBLE. THIS WILL LEAD TO THE POSSIBILITY OF FLASH FLOODING AS WELL AS RISES ON AREA RIVERS WITH RIVER FLOODING LIKELY. OTHERWISE...AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL DEVELOP ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS TODAY AND MOVE NORTHEAST ACROSS NORTHWEST MISSOURI BY THIS AFTERNOON. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH TONIGHT AHEAD OF THIS FEATURE. WHILE OVERALL INSTABILITY WILL BE WEAK...SUFFICIENT SHEAR AND COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WILL MAKE ISOLATED TORNADOES A POSSIBILITY WITHIN THE STRONGER STORMS...MAINLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF A ST JOSEPH TO KIRKSVILLE LINE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY AS A COLD FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE OUTLOOK AREA ON SATURDAY...ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY. THE STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE SEVERE...BUT AN ADDITIONAL INCH OF RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE. FOR SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY...THE FUTURE REMNANTS OF HURRICANE IKE WILL MOVE THROUGH NORTHWESTERN ARKANSAS INTO SOUTHEASTERN MISSOURI. THIS TRACK MAY PRODUCE ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL OF 1 TO 2 INCHES FOR AREAS GENERALLY SOUTH OF A LINE FROM BUTLER TO CLINTON TO BOONVILLE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED FOR AREAS ALONG AND SOUTH OF A ST JOSEPH TO KIRKSVILLE LINE TODAY. SPOTTERS ARE ALSO URGED TO RELAY ANY RAINFALL AMOUNTS TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OR THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. DEROCHE
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO
643 AM CDT FRI SEP 12 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0613 AM FLASH FLOOD SEDALIA 38.70N 93.23W
09/12/2008 PETTIS MO EMERGENCY MNGR
2 TO 3 FEET OF WATER OVER THE ROAD AT HWY 50 AND
CENTER...WITH SEVERAL CARS STRANDED.
0618 AM FLASH FLOOD 5 S BUNCETON 38.72N 92.80W
09/12/2008 COOPER MO EMERGENCY MNGR
APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES OF WATER OVER THE ROAD ON HWY B
NEAR THE COOPER AND MONITEAU COUNTIES BORDER.
0618 AM FLASH FLOOD 1 SSW PRAIRIE HOME 38.80N 92.60W
09/12/2008 COOPER MO EMERGENCY MNGR
WATER OVER HWY W...1 MILE SOUTH OF HWY J. VEHICLE STALLED
WITH WATER UP TO THE DOOR.
&&
MRDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO
700 AM CDT FRI SEP 12 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0640 AM FLASH FLOOD 4 N CLINTON 38.43N 93.77W
09/12/2008 HENRY MO LAW ENFORCEMENT
HIGH WATERS ALONG HWY 13.
0640 AM FLASH FLOOD 2 W CLINTON 38.37N 93.81W
09/12/2008 HENRY MO LAW ENFORCEMENT
HIGH WATERS ALONG HWY 7.
0640 AM FLASH FLOOD MONTROSE 38.26N 93.98W
09/12/2008 HENRY MO LAW ENFORCEMENT
HIGH WATERS COVERING A MAJORITY OF HWY K.
0640 AM FLASH FLOOD 2 SW CALHOUN 38.45N 93.65W
09/12/2008 HENRY MO LAW ENFORCEMENT
HIGH WATERS ALONG HWY 52 RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT
PONDING.
&&
MRDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO
706 AM CDT FRI SEP 12 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0645 AM FLASH FLOOD 4 S BUNCETON 38.73N 92.80W
09/12/2008 COOPER MO EMERGENCY MNGR
HIGH WATERS ALONG HWY B SOUTH OF HWY J.
&&
ACHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO
754 AM CDT FRI SEP 12 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0720 AM FLASH FLOOD 4 SE BOONVILLE 38.92N 92.70W
09/12/2008 COOPER MO EMERGENCY MNGR
HIGH WATERS ALONG HWY 87 TWO MILES SOUTH OF I-70.
&&
ACHThe Pleasant Hill radar (KEAX), 67 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 14:46 UTC.
3 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
High water was reported on 391ST Street at Hedge lane.
High water was reported along 347TH Street at Harmony Road.
High water was reported along 299TH Street and Oak Grove Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, September 2008
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: 134938, 134939, 134940.