A tropical airmass associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Alex moved into the central plains during the Fourth of July weekend. A strong upper level low pressure system allowed numerous storms to form across the area.
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.
A tropical airmass associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Alex moved into the central plains during the Fourth of July weekend. A strong upper level low pressure system allowed numerous storms to form across the area. As a result several areas reported heavy rain and flooding. Two tornadoes were reported during the afternoon of the 4th. The first tornado formed near Mayetta, and crossed US 75 overturning a vehicle and travel trailer. It also hit a house near Mayetta causing some minor structural damage. A second tornado formed briefly in southern Shawnee county, but caused no damage and dissipated within seconds of forming.
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 Jul 4, 11:33 AM CST, 22 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 1233 PM CDT SUN JUL 4 2010 .UPDATE... UPDATED FOR THE 18Z TAFS && .DISCUSSION... SEE PREVIOUS DISCUSSION && .AVIATION... FORECAST STILL REMAINS TOUGH TO SIFT THROUGH. HOWEVER...DO EXPECT CONDITIONS TO REMAIN MOSTLY MVFR WITH OCCASIONAL VFR CONDITIONS AT TERMINALS. DEEP TROPICAL FETCH CONTINUES OVER KANSAS FROM THE TROPICAL PACIFIC. NUMEROUS SMALL SHRTWVS ARE OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO CAUSE -SHRA/-TSRA OVER THE AREA. IN ADDITION...OUTFLOW BOUNDARY AND PACIFIC FRONT MOVING SE OUT OF NEBRASKA IS HELPING TO ENHANCE CONVECTION OVER NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS. LINE OF MODERATE RAIN HAS DEVELOPED WITH THIS FEATURE AND MVFR/IFR CIGS ASSOCIATED WITH IT WHICH WILL MOVE SE INTO THE TERMINALS BETWEEN 18Z-23Z. TONIGHT ALSO REMAINS IN QUESTION AS MODELS ARE HINTING AT CIGS BECOMING IFR BY 12Z. LEFT CIGS MVFR FOR NOW. && BYRNE PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 344 AM CDT SUN JUL 4 2010/ DISCUSSION... FCST FOCUS REMAINS ON PRECIP CHCS AND DURATION/AMOUNTS THROUGH THE NEXT 72 HRS. LATEST WATER VAPOR LOOP SHOWS A LARGE PLUME OF TROPICAL MOISTURE IN PLACE ACROSS THE CENTRAL/SOUTHERN PLAINS. PW VALUES REMAIN AROUND 2 INCHES OR 150-200 PERCENT OF NORMAL. SEVERAL WEAK DISTURBANCES CONTINUE TO DRIFT NE WITHIN THE MODEST SW FLOW ALOFT EACH ENHANCING AREAS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINS ACROSS OK/KS THIS MORNING. ANOTHER DECAYING MCS ACROSS NE WAS ACTING TO DRIVE THE SFC FRONT SOUTH INTO NW KS/SOUTHERN NE THIS MORNING. THIS FRONT WILL BE KEY TO MORE FOCUSED CONVECTION OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS. ADDITIONAL FORCING IS ON THE WAY AS A STRONG SHORTWAVE NOW ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN TRACKS TOWARD THE PLAINS OVERNIGHT. TODAY...BOUTS OF RAIN SHOWERS AND ISOLATED STORMS WILL OCCUR AS A SERIES OF WAVES PROVIDES MODEST LIFT WITHIN THE EXTREMELY MOIST AIRMASS IN PLACE. HIGHS SHOULD ATTEMPT TO REACH AROUND 80 IN MOST SPOTS AND PERHAPS A BIT WARMER SE WHERE PRECIP MAY BEGIN LATER. TONIGHT-MON NIGHT...STRONGER LIFT WILL ARRIVE AS THE UPPER WAVE APPROACHES. CONVERGENCE ALONG THE SFC-850MB FRONT WILL PROVIDE THE LOW LEVEL FORCING WHILE THE RIGHT ENTRANCE REGION OF THE UPPER JET PROVIDES THE SUPPORT FOR ORGANIZED RAIN AND STORMS. WARM CLOUD DEPTH AOA 12KFT/PWATS IN EXCESS OF 2 INCHES AND LLJ OF 30-40KTS ALL SUGGEST THE RISK FOR LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS. RECENT DRY WEATHER SHOULD HELP TO MITIGATE THE INITIAL HEAVY RAINS TONIGHT HOWEVER IT APPEARS THAT WE WILL REMAIN WITHIN SW FLOW ALOFT WITH A SFC-850MB BOUNDARY IN PLACE THROUGH MONDAY INTO EARLY TUES AS ANOTHER UPPER WAVE MOVES ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS. IT IS THIS SET UP AND THE ASSOCIATED RISK FOR ADDITIONAL BOUTS OF HEAVY RAINS THAT COULD EVENTUALLY PRODUCE FLOODING COME MONDAY INTO EARLY TUES IF WE SEE THE RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO AS MUCH AS 6 INCHES AS HPC IS SUGGESTING COULD FALL. FEEL THAT GIVEN THE POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING IT IS BEST TO HIGHLIGHT THE RISK WITH A WATCH FOR LATER TONIGHT THROUGH MON NIGHT FOR THE ENTIRE AREA GIVEN UNCERTAINLY IN THE POSITION OF THE FRONT BEYOND 24 HOURS. TUES AND BEYOND...LATEST GUIDANCE HAS HIGH POPS THROUGH TUES WITH LITTLE IN THE WAY OF CHANGE IN OUR SYNOPTIC SETTING. SOME HOPE THAT ANY LOW LEVEL FRONT WILL SAG SOUTH OF THE AREA BY MID WEEK BUT CONFIDENCE REMAINS LOW BEYOND TUES. AVIATION... && .TOP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 AM TUESDAY FOR KSZ008-KSZ009-KSZ010-KSZ020- KSZ021-KSZ034. FLOOD WATCH FROM 7 PM SUNDAY TO 7 AM TUESDAY FOR KSZ011-KSZ012- KSZ022-KSZ023-KSZ024-KSZ026-KSZ035-KSZ036-KSZ037-KSZ038-KSZ039- KSZ040-KSZ054-KSZ055-KSZ056-KSZ058-KSZ059. && BYRNE
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 432 AM CDT SUN JUL 4 2010 KSZ008>012-020>024-026-034>040-054>056-058-059-050945- REPUBLIC-WASHINGTON-MARSHALL-NEMAHA-BROWN-CLOUD-CLAY-RILEY- POTTAWATOMIE-JACKSON-JEFFERSON-OTTAWA-DICKINSON-GEARY-MORRIS- WABAUNSEE-SHAWNEE-DOUGLAS-LYON-OSAGE-FRANKLIN-COFFEY-ANDERSON- 432 AM CDT SUN JUL 4 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL...NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST KANSAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT OCCASIONAL RAIN SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE TODAY. NO SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED TODAY OR TONIGHT. BY TONIGHT...RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD AND HEAVY RAINS WILL BE POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL REMAIN LIKELY MONDAY WITH ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAIN POSSIBLE. THE RISK FOR RAIN AND FLOODING WILL PERSIST INTO MONDAY NIGHT WITH RAIN CHANCES EXPECTED TO LINGER INTO TUESDAY. SOME AREAS COULD RECEIVE 2 TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE BY TUESDAY. IF THIS OCCURS...IT COULD BE SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE FLOODING OF AREA CREEKS...STREAMS AND RIVERS BY NEXT WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED TODAY OR TONIGHT HOWEVER RAINFALL REPORTS WILL BE NEEDED THROUGH MONDAY.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
1103 AM CDT SUN JUL 04 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1101 AM HEAVY RAIN 4 NE DELPHOS 39.32N 97.73W
07/04/2010 E2.00 INCH CLOUD KS TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
BYRNEPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
1117 AM CDT SUN JUL 04 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1117 AM HEAVY RAIN HANOVER 39.89N 96.88W
07/04/2010 E3.50 INCH WASHINGTON KS TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
BYRNEPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
1126 AM CDT SUN JUL 04 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1126 AM HEAVY RAIN E HANOVER 39.90N 96.87W
07/04/2010 E3.00 INCH WASHINGTON KS TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
BYRNEPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
1142 AM CDT SUN JUL 04 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1142 AM HEAVY RAIN 4 ENE ADA 39.18N 97.82W
07/04/2010 M1.60 INCH OTTAWA KS TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
BYRNEPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
1158 AM CDT SUN JUL 04 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1157 AM HEAVY RAIN 5 NE DELPHOS 39.33N 97.71W
07/04/2010 M3.00 INCH CLOUD KS TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
BYRNEPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
1242 PM CDT SUN JUL 04 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1241 PM HEAVY RAIN 5 NE DELPHOS 39.33N 97.71W
07/04/2010 M4.75 INCH CLOUD KS TRAINED SPOTTER
1.75 INCHES FALLEN IN LESS THAN 1 HOUR.
&&
BYRNEThe Grand Island radar (KUEX), 139 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:56 UTC.
9 flood, 2 tornado, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Two to three inches of water was running over Mulberry Road near Ada.
Three to five inches of water was reported running over Highway 41, 3 miles east of Delphos. Also 120th road was under approximately 5 inches of water running out of nearby fields.
A National Weather Service damage assessment team has confirmed damage south of Mayetta, Kansas on July 4th was caused by an EF-0 tornado.
The tornado formed 3 miles south of Mayetta, Kansas at 4:46 PM CDT. This initial formation was approximately 1 mile west of the intersection of U.S. Highway 75 and 134 Road where a house sustained minor damage. As the tornado crossed Highway 75 a camper was rolled in the northbound lane of U.S. 75.
The tornado continued on to where it impacted a farmstead 1/4 mile east of U.S. 75 and 142 Road. At this location, there were 6 to 8 inch tree branches down along with several trees. Shingle damage was also noted to the home and a camper was tipped over. Another farmstead was struck just to the east. Metal roofing and a metal barn were destroyed along with significant tree damage. The resident reported hearing the tornado and seeing debris blowing around as it hit.
The tornado then crossed 142 Road and dissipated in an alfalfa field where a decent debris field was deposited when the tornado weakened. The tornado ended at 4:48 PM CDT.
Coon Creek, south of Greenleaf, was out of its banks.
Water over K4 Highway in several places was reported near and west of Herington. Also, Union Road, north of Herington, and Highway 43, north of hope, had water over the roadway.
A few inches of water was flowing over US 56, north of Burdick.
Water flowed across US Highway 24, west of St. Mary's, near mile marker 343.
Eight inches of water flowed across Highway 41, just east of Delphos.
Water flowed across intersection of 174 Road and N Road.
Water was reported over Old Highway 75, north of Holton.
A brief tornado touched down in extreme southern Shawnee County on the evening of July 4th. The tornado lasted less than 1 minute and caused only minor damage. The tops of some trees were damaged, as was a tin outbuilding near Richland.
A 4 inch tree limb was broken from strong winds.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Kansas, 2010Warnings in Kansas, July 2010
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: 254185, 254186, 254184, 254187, 254188, 254189, 254190, 254191, 254192, 254194, 254195, 254193.