Flash Flooding and Flood in Kansas, July 4 to 7, 2010

Name: Flash Flooding and Flood in Kansas, July 4 to 7, 2010
Start: 2010-07-04T12:45
End: 2010-07-07T20:09
Location: Kansas

July 4 to 7, 2010 · NWS ICT · 24 events in 15 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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: $121,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Events: 24

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 ICT wrote it up.

Abundant moisture left over from the remnants of Tropical Storm Alex streamed north and interacted with strong upper level dynamics to produce widespread heavy rainfall across Kansas over a three day period. This rainfall event started over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, washing out alot of the festivities associated with the holiday. This heavy rainfall event continued until July 7th, 2010. Numerous rounds of heavy rainfall led to countywide flooding across numerous counties, with some fields and low lying areas remaining flooded for the whole week.

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 Wichita, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 4, 11:26 AM CST, 1 hour 19 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 4, 11:26 AM CST, 1 hour 19 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 4, 11:46 AM CST, 59 minutes before

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In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 4, 12:15 PM CST, 30 minutes before

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Local storm report, Jul 4, 12:45 PM CST, 0 minutes before

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The radar

The Wichita radar (KICT), 62 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:45 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

15 flash flood, 7 heavy rain, 1 flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, McPherson

When: July 4, 12:45 PM CST
Where: McPherson County, 0.69 mi N of Moundridge
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.210, -97.520

Storm total was 4.00 inches.

Flood, Lincoln

When: July 4, 2:15 PM CST to 5:15 PM CST
Where: Lincoln County, 3.27 mi E of Vesper to 3.03 mi WNW of Barnard
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $100
Crop damage: $100
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 39.033, -98.219

Many county roads were flooded across the eastern half of the county. Measured rainfall in Lincoln was 4.80 inches and 4.25 inches in Barnard.

Heavy Rain, Reno

When: July 4, 2:40 PM CST
Where: Reno County, 3.55 mi WSW of South Hutchinson
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.010, -97.980

Rainfall amounts were 4.60 inches.

Heavy Rain, McPherson

When: July 4, 3:14 PM CST
Where: McPherson County, Moundridge
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.200, -97.520

Twenty four hour rainfall total was 5.0 inches.

Heavy Rain, Kingman

When: July 4, 3:29 PM CST
Where: Kingman County, 2.59 mi ENE of Kingman Muni Arpt
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.690, -98.080

A trained spotter reported 4.0 inches of rainfall in a twelve hour period.

Flash Flood, Marion

When: July 4, 5:00 PM CST to July 5, 1:35 PM CST
Where: Marion County, 6.66 mi ESE of Peabody to 5.34 mi SW of Florence
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $100
Crop damage: $100
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 38.146, -96.981

Law enforcement barricaded 30th and Old Mil Road due to high water. Up to 4.5 inches of rainfall fell during the event, with some low lying areas almost knee deep in water.

Flash Flood, Sedgwick

When: July 4, 5:52 PM CST to 7:45 PM CST
Where: Sedgwick County, 4.84 mi S of Andale to 2.12 mi ENE of Valley Center
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $40,000
Crop damage: $200
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.730, -97.630

Law enforcement reported that numerous county roads were closed across the northwest portions of the county. Sandbagging occurred in Colwich and two residents reported two feet of water in the basement. Rainfall amounts ranged from 5 to 7 inches across the area. Street flooding also occurred in Andale, Valley Center and Sedgwick.

Flash Flood, Reno

When: July 4, 5:52 PM CST to 7:45 PM CST
Where: Reno County, 4.71 mi SW of Haven to 2.27 mi SE of Haven
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $100
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 37.852, -97.841

Five inches of rainfall led to flooding in the town of Haven. Numerous basements were flooded. Some homes had up to 10 inches of water in the basement.

Heavy Rain, Butler

When: July 4, 6:03 PM CST to 7:38 PM CST
Where: Butler County, 1.38 mi S of Whitewater to 1.49 mi S of Potwin
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.950, -97.150

Law enforcement reported 1.7 inches in 40 minutes with total rainfall of 5.00 inches just south of Whitewater. Potwin reported 4.00 inches.

Flash Flood, Harvey

When: July 4, 6:52 PM CST to 8:52 PM CST
Where: Harvey County, 1.72 mi S of Burrton to 6 mi S of Hesston
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $100
Crop damage: $100
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 37.995, -97.671

Five to seven inches of rainfall fell across the region producing flooding of numerous county roads. Some minor street flooding also occurred in Halstead, Burrton and Sedgwick.

Heavy Rain, Butler

When: July 4, 7:09 PM CST
Where: Butler County, 1.38 mi S of Whitewater
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 37.950, -97.150

The emergency manager reported 5.0 inches over a twelve hour period.

Heavy Rain, Elk

When: July 5, 8:46 AM CST
Where: Elk County, 0.55 mi E of Howard
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.470, -96.260

The Elk county dispatch center measured 4.7 inches since midnight.

Flash Flood, Elk

When: July 5, 9:21 AM CST to 10:31 AM CST
Where: Elk County, 1.4 mi WNW of Longton to 1.53 mi E of Longton
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $100
Crop damage: $100
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 37.388, -96.104

Heavy rainfall of 5 to 6 inches closed portions of Highway 160 from Grenola to Longton. The town of Howard reported 4.70 inches of rainfall. The worse flooding along Highway 160 was near Oak Valley.

Thunderstorm Wind, Montgomery

When: July 6, 6:15 AM CST
Where: Montgomery County, 1.38 mi S of Coffeyville to 3.85 mi E of Coffeyville
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 37.010, -95.630

Wind damage to power poles from 2 miles south of Coffeyville to two miles east of Coffeyville.

Flash Flood, Wilson

When: July 6, 9:35 AM CST to 11:35 AM CST
Where: Wilson County, Fredonia to 2.08 mi WSW of Fredonia
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $100
Crop damage: $100
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 37.530, -95.820

Significant street flooding occurred in Fredonia.

Flash Flood, Wilson

When: July 6, 9:55 AM CST to 1:35 PM CST
Where: Wilson County, 1.49 mi SSE of Neodesha to 2.3 mi ENE of Altoona
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $100
Crop damage: $100
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 37.410, -95.670

Significant street flooding occurred in Fredonia. A water rescue took place just southeast of Neodesha. Numerous county roads were closed across the county.

Flash Flood, Woodson

When: July 6, 9:57 AM CST to 12:57 PM CST
Where: Woodson County, 9.81 mi S of Yates Center to 3.25 mi SE of Yates Center
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $100
Crop damage: $100
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.740, -95.700

Numerous low water crossings were closed across the county from Buffalo to Neosho Falls.

Flash Flood, Woodson

When: July 6, 9:57 AM CST to 11:57 AM CST
Where: Woodson County, 1.29 mi WNW of Neosho Falls to 1.48 mi W of Neosho Falls
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $100
Crop damage: $100
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 38.010, -95.570

A few low water crossings around Neosho Falls were covered in water.

Flash Flood, Allen

When: July 6, 10:46 AM CST to 1:46 PM CST
Where: Allen County, 4.37 mi WNW of Iola to 3.44 mi WSW of Petrolia
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $100
Crop damage: $100
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 37.953, -95.468

Numerous county roads were closed across the county.

Flash Flood, Neosho

When: July 6, 1:15 PM CST to 2:15 PM CST
Where: Neosho County, 2.5 mi ENE of Chanute to 3.46 mi NW of Chanute
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $100
Crop damage: $100
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.695, -95.429

Numerous county roads and roads across the town of Chanute had water over them.

Flash Flood, Montgomery

When: July 6, 1:20 PM CST to 2:20 PM CST
Where: Montgomery County, 1.36 mi E of Havana to 2.3 mi S of Havana
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $100
Crop damage: $100
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.096, -95.926

Numerous roads were covered by water, especially near Havana. Highway 75 just southeast of Havana was barricaded due to high water.

Flash Flood, Chautauqua

When: July 6, 2:20 PM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Chautauqua County, Sedan to 2.65 mi NNW of Chautauqua
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $100
Crop damage: $100
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.130, -96.180

Water was reported over numerous roads mainly to the east of Sedan. County Road 32 north of highway 166 was barricaded due to high water.

Flash Flood, Elk

When: July 6, 2:21 PM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Elk County, 5.65 mi SE of Longton to 6.7 mi SW of Longton
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $100
Crop damage: $100
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.320, -96.010

Numerous rural roads were flooded over the eastern half of the county. Highway 160 was closed near Oak Valley.

Flash Flood, Allen

When: July 7, 6:50 PM CST to 8:09 PM CST
Where: Allen County, 3.88 mi W of Iola to 2.57 mi NW of La Harpe
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $100
Crop damage: $100
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.910, -95.470

Water was reported over some county roads west of Iola. Nearly 3.20 inches of rainfall caused water to flow over Florida and County road 200 and Missouri and County Road 600.

What these are

Heavy Rain: Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
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.
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.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Kansas in 2010 Every state in 2010 This day in weather history Warnings in Kansas, July 2010

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: 254591, 254212, 254592, 254593, 254594, 254157, 254165, 254172, 254207, 254182, 254595, 254596, 254204, 254588, 254589, 254224, 254248, 254590, 254246, 254574, 254575, 254579, 254585, 254587.