Dry conditions, which started in the spring, intensified during the month of July. Drought conditions expanded across Kansas, with D2 conditions at the beginning of the month, increasing to D3 conditions by the end of the month.
Every event with a place to put it; 7 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
Dry conditions, which started in the spring, intensified during the month of July. Drought conditions expanded across Kansas, with D2 conditions at the beginning of the month, increasing to D3 conditions by the end of the month. Most locations by the end month, had yearly rainfall deficits of 10 to 15 inches.
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 Jun 30, 11:02 PM CST, 58 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO 1202 AM CDT Sun Jul 1 2012 ...UPDATED AVIATION DISCUSSION... .DISCUSSION... Short Range (Tonight through Monday)... The primary concern in the short term will be the potential for thunderstorms in the northern tiers of counties late this afternoon through tonight. Although it doesn't seem that enough widespread surface heating has occurred to break the cap across the length of the CWA this afternoon, some aggravated cu and a few brief isolated cells which formed over north central Missouri this afternoon indicate that a few pockets of cooling aloft may allow for very isolated convection near the surface boundary through this evening, mainly in the northeast corner of the forecast area. Further to the west, the lift and midlevel cooling from a shortwave trough has helped to fire convection over north central Kansas and portions of central Nebraska. The shortwave and associated ongoing storms should continue to move eastward over the next several hours along the surface boundary, potentially impacting the northwest corner of the forecast area by around 00z. Although the environment along the surface boundary is highly unstable and model soundings indicate a fairly weak capping inversion, very high freezing levels and very weak flow at 700 mb leading to disorganized shear profiles will make severe weather somewhat hard to come by, especially between 00-03z. However, shear in the lowest 3 km increases between 03z and 06z, which could possibly support some sort of organized bowing structure later tonight. Still do not expect much southward progression of any storms that develop, since most models indicate the surface boundary should lift north tonight with increasing southerly low level winds, so have limited the highest chance of precipitation to the northern two tiers of counties for tonight. For Sunday, left some lingering lower-end chances of precipitation for the morning through early afternoon, then lifted any chances out of the CWA as the surface boundary continues to meander northward. Temperatures for Sunday look just a degree or two cooler than previous days, and with the best moisture pooling also shifting north of the forecast area, should see heat indices mainly below 105 F. This trend will continue Monday with air temperatures staying a few degrees below the century mark and dewpoints in the 60's, keeping heat indices around or just above 100. For this reason, will expire the excessive heat warning this evening and do not plan to issue any additional heat-related headlines at this time. The rest of the short term should stay dry as ridging builds across the central Plains; fortunately, winds should stay relatively light and minimum RHs should remain around 35 percent or higher as a result of the slightly cooler temperatures, keeping fire danger above a critical level. Laflin Tuesday - Saturday: While it still is going to be hot, models have backed off a bit from what looked like extreme heat. The biggest reason for this is that despite the upper ridge reestablishing itself through the central CONUS, the greatest thickness values and highest temperatures aloft look to be focused across the Central and Northern Plains westward into the High Plains. There is a relative coolness in temperatures aloft by the end of next week from the southeastern half of our forecast area to the south and east. This is most noticeable on the GFS and appears to be the result of upper troughing wrapping around the eastern periphery of the upper ridge, back into the ridge itself. Additionally, for earlier in the week, there appears to be a weak upper wave over the western Gulf of Mexico, which is currently bringing rainfall to South Texas. This feature is most evident on the 00Z ECMWF and tracks it north into Texas and through the Ozarks. The newer GFS takes this feature into Mexico so confidence is a little low bringing this feature northward through the building upper ridge. With all that said, the going forecast looks very good and see no reason to deviate much from it. It still looks dry, as the upper ridge builds across the Plains and suppresses most, if not all, of our precipitation chances. Temperatures look good as well as models keep the core of the hottest air to our west. But we should still see highs climb into the upper 90s to near 100 degrees. Northwestern Missouri should see the hottest temperatures as they are poised closer to the very warm air aloft and the core of the expanding thicknesses in the Plains. All medium range models and their ensemble counterparts are in very good agreement through the duration of the extended showing the ridge building/expanding. So confidence is fairly high throughout the extended. CDB && .CLIMATE... Near record temperatures are expected through the weekend. Here are the records for Kansas City and St. Joseph through Sunday. In Kansas City: Date................Avg High/Low......Record High.....Record Warm Min Saturday (6/30).......87/67...........102 in 1933......82 in 1931 Sunday (7/01).......87/67...........103 in 1933......83 in 1980 The average first 100 degree day in Kansas City occurs on July 20th. The last 100 degree day during the month of June took place on June 28, 1988 (June 1988 featured seven 100+ degree days and five consecutive 100+ degree days). There have only been four years with more than one 100+ degree day in the month of June since 1950 (1988, 1954, 1953, 1952). The warmest June day on record is 108 degrees set on June 23, 1934. If no precipitation falls through the end of June, the 5.25" of precipitation accumulated since April 1st will make the period of April 1-June 30, 2012 the 2nd driest stretch of history to the 4.46" recorded in April 1-June 30 of 1911. From January 1st-June 30, the 13.00" of precipitation at the Kansas City International Airport stands as the 15th driest stretch in history. In St. Joseph: Date...............Avg High/Low........Record High...Record Warm Min Saturday (6/30).......87/66...........101 in 1917........78 in 1970 Sunday (7/01).......87/66...........102 in 1933........81 in 1933 && .AVIATION... For 06Z TAFs, planning to carry VCTS through 07z as outflow boundary and upper level shortwave move away from the terminal locations. Otherwise VFR conditions are expected for the remainder of this forecast cycle. Variable winds should become southerly once again towards daybreak with some persistent mid-high level cloudiness. MJM && .EAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MO...NONE. KS...NONE. && WFO EAX
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO 623 PM CDT SAT JUN 30 2012 KSZ025-057-060-102>105-MOZ001>008-011>017-020>025-028>033-037>040- 043>046-053-054-011145- 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- 623 PM CDT SAT JUN 30 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST...NORTH CENTRAL AND WEST CENTRAL MISSOURI...AS WELL AS EXTREME EASTERN KANSAS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT VERY WARM CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS. TEMPERATURE READINGS SHOULD FALL INTO THE MIDDLE AND UPPER 80S BY 10PM AT MOST LOCATIONS. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS PARTS OF NORTHERN MISSOURI THIS EVENING AND INTO THE OVERNIGHT. IF ANY STORMS DO FORM...THEY SHOULD REMAIN BELOW SEVERE LIMITS. THERE IS A HEIGHTENED FIRE DANGER MAINLY FOR AREAS ALONG AND SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 36. SOUTHWEST WINDS FROM 10 TO 15 MPH AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES FROM 25 TO 30 PERCENT INCREASE THE RISK OF OUTDOOR FIRES SPREADING QUICKLY AFTER IGNITION. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS SUNDAY MORNING ACROSS FAR NORTHERN MISSOURI AS A WEAK FRONT WILL LAY ACROSS SOUTHERN IOWA. THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER IS LOW. THE DANGEROUS HEAT WILL LIKELY PERSIST THROUGH NEXT WEEK WITH AFTERNOON HIGHS CLIMBING INTO THE UPPER 90S TO LOWER 100S. AFTERNOON HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL RANGE FROM 100-105. IN ADDITION TO THE HIGH TEMPERATURES...AN INCREASE IN FIRE DANGER WILL CONTINUE...GIVEN LOWER HUMIDITY VALUES AND MODERATE WIND SPEEDS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. MJM
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO
832 PM CDT SAT JUN 30 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0831 PM HAIL ST. JOSEPH 39.77N 94.85W
06/30/2012 M1.00 INCH BUCHANAN MO TRAINED SPOTTER
AT 16TH AND MESSANIE.
&&
GAMISPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO
850 PM CDT SAT JUN 30 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0842 PM HAIL ST. JOSEPH 39.77N 94.85W
06/30/2012 M1.25 INCH BUCHANAN MO BROADCAST MEDIA
&&
GAMISPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO
852 PM CDT SAT JUN 30 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0836 PM HAIL 4 E ST. JOSEPH 39.77N 94.77W
06/30/2012 M1.00 INCH BUCHANAN MO LAW ENFORCEMENT
QUARTER SIZED HAIL ON HIGHWAY 36.
&&
GAMISSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO
901 PM CDT SAT JUN 30 2012
KSZ025-010245-
ATCHISON KS-
901 PM CDT SAT JUN 30 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN ATCHISON COUNTY UNTIL 945
PM CDT...
AT 858 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR HOLTON...OR 24 MILES WEST OF NORTONVILLE...
MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
MUSCOTAH...EFFINGHAM...LANCASTER...ARRINGTON...HURON...FARMINGTON
AND CUMMINGS.
THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS... FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
LAT...LON 3944 9557 3956 9558 3958 9557 3964 9557
3964 9525 3942 9523 3942 9541 3942 9557
3942 9558
TIME...MOT...LOC 0201Z 268DEG 32KT 3949 9573
HAWBLITZELSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO
923 PM CDT SAT JUN 30 2012
KSZ025-102>104-MOZ020-028-010245-
ATCHISON KS-BUCHANAN MO-DONIPHAN KS-LEAVENWORTH KS-PLATTE
MO-WYANDOTTE KS-
923 PM CDT SAT JUN 30 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN PLATTE...WESTERN
BUCHANAN...SOUTHERN DONIPHAN...ATCHISON...WESTERN WYANDOTTE AND
LEAVENWORTH COUNTIES UNTIL 945 PM CDT...
AT 917 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
A STRONG GUST FRONT EXTENDING FROM EVEREST TO NORTONVILLE TO
PERRY...AND MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. THIS GUST FRONT WAS LOCATED ABOUT
25 MILES AHEAD OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTHEAST KANSAS.
WINDS WILL QUICKLY TURN TO THE NORTHWEST AND GUST UP TO 45 MPH AS
THIS GUST FRONT MOVES THROUGH.
LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE...
ATCHISON...TROY...TONGANOXIE...WESTON...LEAVENWORTH...WATHENA...
LANSING...BASEHOR...ELWOOD...ST. JOSEPH...PLATTE CITY...BONNER
SPRINGS...DENTON...EASTON...RUSHVILLE...LINWOOD...TRACY...
DEARBORN...CAMDEN POINT AND AGENCY.
THIS WILL IMPACT THE FOLLOWING INTERSTATES...
I-435 LOOP FROM MILE MARKERS 14 TO 19...25 TO 32.
I-29 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 16 AND 49.
I-229 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 0 AND 8.
LAT...LON 3966 9534 3980 9534 3980 9475 3940 9469
3906 9484 3905 9488 3900 9490 3900 9519
3941 9519 3942 9539 3966 9543
TIME...MOT...LOC 0221Z 270DEG 40KT 3971 9531 3940 9526
3908 9539
HAWBLITZELSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO
1018 PM CDT SAT JUN 30 2012
KSZ102-MOZ011-010345-
DONIPHAN KS-HOLT MO-
1018 PM CDT SAT JUN 30 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN HOLT AND NORTHWESTERN
DONIPHAN COUNTIES UNTIL 1045 PM CDT...
AT 1013 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR WHITE CLOUD...OR 8 MILES NORTH OF
HIGHLAND...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 5 MPH.
HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
FOREST CITY AND OREGON.
THIS WILL IMPACT
I-29 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 69 AND 82.
THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS... FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
LAT...LON 4015 9513 3994 9501 3988 9530 3995 9535
4000 9534 4001 9534 4000 9531 4001 9533
4003 9535 4002 9539 4005 9540
TIME...MOT...LOC 0318Z 247DEG 5KT 3999 9525
HAWBLITZELThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Drought conditions became worse during the month as D3 conditions developed. Atchison reported 1.61 inches of rain.
Drought conditions became worse during the month as D3 conditions developed. Troy reported 0.65 inches of rain.
Drought conditions became worse during the month as D3 conditions developed. Olathe received 0.89 inches of rain.
Drought conditions became worse during the month as D3 conditions developed. Leavenworth received 0.82 inches of rain.
Drought conditions became worse during the month as D3 conditions developed. Mound City received 0.53 inches of rain.
Drought conditions became worse during the month as D3 conditions developed. Osawatomie received 1.04 inches of rain.
Drought conditions became worse during the month as D3 conditions developed. Bonner Springs received 0.66 inches of rain.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, July 2012
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: 402411, 402412, 402413, 402414, 402415, 402416, 402417.