A powerful storm system, that originated over Arizona and New Mexico, allowed a substantial amount of Gulf of Mexico moisture, to surge north into the center of the United States. Meanwhile, a frontal boundary had stalled across southern Missouri, allowing this moisture to be lifted into central Missouri, in the form of heavy showers and thunderstorms, March 16 and 17, 2008.
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.
A powerful storm system, that originated over Arizona and New Mexico, allowed a substantial amount of Gulf of Mexico moisture, to surge north into the center of the United States. Meanwhile, a frontal boundary had stalled across southern Missouri, allowing this moisture to be lifted into central Missouri, in the form of heavy showers and thunderstorms, March 16 and 17, 2008. Many locations received in excess of one inch of rainfall, with a stripe of 2 to 3 inches of accumulated rainfall, across central Missouri. This led to expansive flooding of area streams and rivers, with numerous state and county roads closed due to high water.
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 Mar 17, 12:17 PM CST, 1 hour 25 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO
117 PM CDT MON MAR 17 2008
...UPDATED AVIATION...
.DISCUSSION...
WITH HEAVY RAIN ALREADY SETTING UP ACROSS SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF
FORECAST AREA...PULL THE START TIME OF THE FLOOD WATCH BACK TO 9 AM.
PC
PREV DISCUSSION...
/ISSUED 450 AM CDT MON MAR 17 2008/
CONVECTION HAS BEGUN TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE REGION...WITH STRONGEST
STORMS CURRENTLY OVER PORTIONS OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL OKLAHOMA AND
KANSAS. FIRST ROUND TO AFFECT THE FORECAST AREA WILL MOVE ACROSS
EASTERN KANSAS AND WESTERN MISSOURI EARLY THIS MORNING...AS NOSE OF
LOW LEVEL JET PUNCHES NORTH ACROSS THE AREA. AREAL COVERAGE AND
INTENSITY OF PRECIPITATION WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE THROUGH THE
MORNING HOURS...WITH STRONG LIFT OVER THE DEVELOPING SURFACE
BOUNDARY TO THE SOUTH COMBINES WITH BROAD SCALE LIFT ASSOCIATED WITH
MODEST UPPER LEVEL DIFFLUENCE. MODELS PROG WEAK ELEVATED CAPE
APPROACHING 200 J/KG OVER SOUTHERN SECTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA
THIS AFTERNOON. WHILE HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY STRONG
CONVECTION AT THAT TIME...THINK ANY HAIL WILL GENERALLY BE SMALL.
INSTABILITY INCREASES DURING THE EVENING...AS THE SURFACE WARM FRONT
PUSHES FARTHER NORTH INTO CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST MISSOURI. MODELS
PROG ELEVATED CAPE IN THE 150-300 J/KG RANGE GENERALLY ALONG AND
SOUTH OF A KANSAS CITY TO MOBERLY LINE. MID TO UPPER LEVEL LIFT ALSO
EXPECTED TO INCREASE AS THE NEXT CHUNK OF ENERGY IS EJECTED ACROSS
THE REGION...AND UPPER LEVEL DIFFLUENCE STRENGTHENS WITH APPROACHING
UPPER LEVEL LOW. THEREFORE THINK THERE IS A BETTER CHANCE FOR STRONG
TO POSSIBLY SEVERE STORMS AT THAT TIME. WHILE STORMS WILL STILL BE
ELEVATED MAKING HAIL THE PRIMARY THREAT...THE INVERSION LEVEL WILL
BE LOWERING...THEREBY MAKING DAMAGING WIND GUSTS ALSO POSSIBLE WITH
THE STRONGEST STORMS OVER CENTRAL MISSOURI.
HEAVY RAIN IS ACTUALLY THE BIGGER CONCERN. PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES
WILL BE WELL OVER ONE INCH THROUGH AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME...FROM
TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY. ANY CONVECTION TODAY AND TONIGHT WILL BRING
THE POSSIBILITY OF VERY HEAVY RAINFALL. HEADWATER GUIDANCE VALUES ON
RIVER BASINS SOUTHEAST OF A PAOLA TO CARROLLTON TO MACON LINE ARE
UNDER 1.5 INCHES...MAKING RIVER FLOODING A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY.
SUBSIDENCE BEHIND EXITING STORM SYSTEM WILL HELP CUT OFF PRECIP
CHANCES FROM WEST TO EAST DURING THE DAY TUESDAY. HAVE TRIMMED BACK
POPS A LITTLE QUICKER WITH DRY CONDITIONS EXPECTED ACROSS THE
FORECAST AREA BY TUESDAY EVENING.
NRR
&&
.AVIATION...
IFR TO OCCASIONAL LIFR CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE NEXT
SEVERAL HOURS FOR THE KANSAS CITY TERMINALS. KSTJ WILL LIKELY REMAIN
ON THE NORTHERN EDGE OF THE PRECIP SHIELD AND EXPERIENCE OCCASIONAL
BREAKS IN THE RAINFALL. OTHERWISE...REGIONAL RADAR MOSAIC SHOWING A
FAIRLY LONG FETCH OF LIGHT TO MODERATE RAINFALL TO CONTINUE STREAMING
NORTHEASTWARD OUT OF KANSAS. MORE PERSISTENT RAINFALL IS EXPECTED TO
SHIFT SOUTH OF THE AREA BY TONIGHT...HOWEVER...LOW CEILINGS MAY STICK
AROUND UNTIL LATER TOMORROW MORNING.
DEROCHE
&&
EAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MO...FLOOD WATCH FROM 9 AM MONDAY TO 6 AM TUESDAY FOR
MOZ025-MOZ031-MOZ032-MOZ033-MOZ038-MOZ039-MOZ040-
MOZ043-MOZ044-MOZ045-MOZ046-MOZ053-MOZ054.
KS...FLOOD WATCH FROM 9 AM MONDAY TO 6 AM TUESDAY FOR KSZ057-KSZ060.
&&
.EAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MO...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 6 AM TUESDAY FOR MOZ025-MOZ031-MOZ032-MOZ033-
MOZ038-MOZ039-MOZ040-MOZ043-MOZ044-MOZ045-MOZ046-MOZ053-
MOZ054.
KS...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 6 AM TUESDAY FOR KSZ057-KSZ060.HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO 1259 PM CDT MON MAR 17 2008 KSZ025-057-060-102>105-MOZ001>008-011>017-020>025-028>033-037>040- 043>046-053-054-181800- 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- 1259 PM CDT MON MAR 17 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST...NORTH CENTRAL AND WEST CENTRAL MISSOURI...AS WELL AS EXTREME EASTERN KANSAS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT ACROSS AREAS FROM EAST CENTRAL KANSAS INTO CENTRAL MISSOURI THROUGH TONIGHT. NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE OUTLOOK AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS SHOULD CONTINUE INTO TONIGHT. VERY HEAVY RAIN IS POSSIBLE WITH THIS ACTIVITY LEADING TO FLOODING ON AREA CREEKS AND RIVERS... ESPECIALLY FROM EAST CENTRAL KANSAS INTO WEST CENTRAL AND EASTERN MISSOURI...WHERE SEVERAL ROUNDS OF HEAVY RAIN MAY OCCUR. IN ADDITION...THE STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS MAY ALSO PRODUCE SMALL HAIL... MAINLY SOUTH OF A LINE FROM KANSAS CITY TO MOBERLY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WHILE WIDESPREAD SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED...REPORTS OF HAIL...FLOODING PROBLEMS AND ADDITIONAL RIVER LEVEL READINGS MAY BE NEEDED TODAY AND TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY FROM EAST CENTRAL KANSAS INTO CENTRAL MISSOURI DEROCHE
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO 842 AM CDT MON MAR 17 2008 MOZ040-045-046-171415- COOPER-HOWARD-PETTIS- 842 AM CDT MON MAR 17 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR COOPER...SOUTHEASTERN PETTIS AND SOUTHWESTERN HOWARD COUNTIES UNTIL 915 AM CDT... AT 841 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8 MILES SOUTH OF SEDALIA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR... SMITHTON BY 850 AM CDT. OTTERVILLE BY 855 AM CDT. PILOT GROVE BY 905 AM CDT. 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF BUNCETON BY 910 AM CDT. BOONVILLE AND 7 MILES SOUTH OF NEW FRANKLIN BY 915 AM CDT. THE TOWNS OF SEDALIA MEMORIAL AIRPORT...CLIFTON CITY...LAMINE AND FRANKLIN ARE ALSO IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM. PEA SIZED HAIL HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH THIS ACTIVITY ACROSS NORTHERN BENTON COUNTY. SMALL HAIL...AND WINDS AROUND 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. DEROCHE
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO 935 AM CDT MON MAR 17 2008 MOZ037-038-043-044-171500- CASS-JACKSON-JOHNSON-LAFAYETTE- 935 AM CDT MON MAR 17 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR NORTHWESTERN CASS...NORTHWESTERN JOHNSON...SOUTHEASTERN JACKSON AND SOUTHWESTERN LAFAYETTE COUNTIES UNTIL 1000 AM CDT... AT 931 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR RAYMORE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR... LEES SUMMIT AND PLEASANT HILL BY 940 AM CDT. LAKE LOTAWANA AND LONE JACK BY 945 AM CDT. OAK GROVE AND GRAIN VALLEY BY 950 AM CDT. ODESSA BY 1000 AM CDT. THE TOWNS OF TARSNEY LAKES AND BATES CITY ARE ALSO IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM. PEA SIZED HAIL HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH THIS STORM IN RAYMORE. SMALL HAIL...AND WINDS AROUND 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. DEROCHE
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
12 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
The Blackwater River near Valley City crested at 29.16 feet, or 7.16 feet above flood stage.
Water rescue was needed on Route Z, southeast of the town of Petersburg. Water was also over the road at the junction of Bartlett Creek and Route Z. This led to the road being closed for a time.
The Big Creek at Blairstown crested at 24.26 feet, or 4.26 feet above flood stage.
The Blackwater River near Blue Lick crested at 30.55 feet, or 6.55 feet above flood stage.
The South Grand River near Urich crested at 27.57 feet, or 3.57 feet above flood stage.
The Moniteau Creek near Fayette crested at 19.14 feet, or 3.14 feet above flood stage.
The Fishing River near Mosby crested at 20.00 feet, or 2.00 feet above flood stage.
The Petite Saline Creek near Boonville crested at 18.69 feet, or 2.69 feet above flood stage.
The Wakenda Creek near Carrollton crested at 21.75 feet, or 1.75 feet above flood stage.
The Crooked River near Richmond crested at 20.98 feet, or 0.98 feet above flood stage.
The Grand River near Sumner crested at 28.57 feet, or 2.57 feet above flood stage.
The Lamine River near Otterville crested at 17.18 feet, or 2.18 feet above flood stage.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Missouri in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Missouri, March 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: 88076, 84614, 88056, 88057, 88075, 88068, 88070, 88065, 88067, 88073, 88074, 88071.