A slow moving low pressure system over the Southern Plains developed several rounds of heavy rainfall which produced flooding.
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 SGF wrote it up.
A slow moving low pressure system over the Southern Plains developed several rounds of heavy rainfall which produced flooding.
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 Springfield, MO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 20, 6:03 PM CST, 2 hours 13 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD MO
703 PM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012
...UPDATE TO AVIATION...
.UPDATE...
LOW END SEVERE CHANCES CONTINUE ACROSS THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE
CWA THIS EVENING. SHARP AIRMASS BOUNDARY HAS BEEN ANALYZED ACROSS
THE CENTRAL TO EASTERN OZARKS...GENERALLY IN A NORTH/SOUTH LINE
FROM GAINESVILLE TO FT. WOOD TO OSAGE BEACH. AIRMASS REMAINS A BIT
UNSTABLE EAST OF THIS BOUNDARY...WITH OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS
INDICATING ONLY A COUPLE HUNDRED JOULES/KG OF CAPE AVAILABLE OVER
THIS AREA. SHEAR IS CERTAINLY NOT A PROBLEM...WITH VERY STRONG
EFFECTIVE BULKS AND LOW LEVEL SRH IN PLACE OVER THE AREA.
WITH SUCH A STRONGLY SHEARED ENVIRONMENT...WILL NEED TO KEEP A
CLOSE EYE ON POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED MESOVORTS AND/OR MINI/LOW-TOPPED
SUPERCELL STRUCTURES THROUGH THE FIRST PART OF THE EVENING. HAVE
OBSERVED WHAT APPEARS TO BE SOME WAVE STRUCTURES MOVING NORTH AT A
FASTER PACE THAN THE OVERALL CONVECTION...WHICH SEEM TO RESULT IN
CONVECTION PERKING UP A BIT AS THEY INTERACT WITH THESE FEATURES.
THIS WILL ALSO NEED TO BE WATCHED THROUGH THE EVENING. MAIN
THREATS THIS EVENING WOULD BE BRIEF SPIN-UP TORNADOES AS WELL AS A
FEW STRONG WIND GUSTS AS 50 KT ENVIRONMENTAL 850 MB WINDS
OCCASIONALLY MAKE IT DOWN TO THE SURFACE.
OVERALL THREAT DOES REMAIN LIMITED...AND PER PHONE COORDINATION
WITH SPC...WILL BE HOLDING OFF ON ANY SORT OF WEATHER WATCH
ISSUANCE UNLESS ADDITIONAL SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS ARE RECEIVED.
BOXELL
&&
.DISCUSSION...
SHORT TERM (TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY)...
THE STALLED OUT UPPER LEVEL LOW IS CURRENTLY OVER WESTERN TEXAS
THIS AFTERNOON. SPOKES OF ENERGY CONTINUE TO PIN WHEEL AROUND THIS
SYSTEM BRINGING ROUNDS OF SHOWERS WITH ISOLATED STORMS. SO FAR
WITH THIS EVENT...THERE HAS BEEN A GENERAL 3 TO 5 INCHES OF
RAINFALL ALONG AND WEST OF HIGHWAY 71 WITH ONE TO TWO INCHES ALONG
AND WEST OF HIGHWAY 65. AREAL FLOODING AND RIVER FLOODING CONTINUES OVER
PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST KANSAS AND EXTREME WESTERN MISSOURI.
EXPECTING AN ADDITIONAL ONE TO THREE INCHES OF RAINFALL ACROSS THE
AREA WITH THE HIGHER AMOUNTS BETWEEN HIGHWAY 71 AND HIGHWAY 5
THROUGH TOMORROW NIGHT.
AS FOR THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT...WHILE THE SEVERE THREAT IS NOT
COMPLETELY ZERO...THE CHANCES ARE EXTREMELY LOW FOR A SEVERE WIND
GUST OR SPIN UP TORNADO. AGAIN THE LIMITING FACTOR CONTINUES TO BE
THE INSTABILITY TO DEVELOP DEEP CONVECTION. ONE BAND OF CONVECTION
WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS THE EASTERN OZARKS THIS EVENING WITH
ANOTHER BAND OF CONVECTION NOW DEVELOPING DOWN IN WESTERN ARKANSAS
WILL ROTATE UP ACROSS SOUTHEAST KANSAS AND SOUTHWEST MISSOURI
LATER THIS EVENING. ANY ADDITIONAL RAINFALL ON SATURATED GROUNDS
WILL AGGRAVATE AREA STREAMS AND RIVERS. THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN
OZARKS HAVEN'T SEEN THAT MUCH RAINFALL YET WITH THIS SYSTEM AND
WILL TAKE A WHILE FOR THE RAIN TO SATURATE THE GROUND IN THESE
AREAS. BUT IF THERE IS ANY TRAINING OF HEAVIER SHOWERS AND
STORMS...THERE COULD BE SOME ADDITIONAL FLOOD WARNINGS ISSUED
LATER TONIGHT. LOOKING AT MODEL DATA...SUGGESTION ANOTHER JET
STREAK COMING AROUND THE BASE OF THE UPPER LEVEL LOW UP THROUGH
THE OZARKS TONIGHT ALONG WITH A DECENT LOW LEVEL JET. THIS COULD
LEAD TO ANOTHER ENHANCEMENT OF RAINFALL LATER THIS EVENING FOR
SOUTHWEST MISSOURI.
LOOKING INTO TOMORROW...THERE APPEARS TO BE A SLIGHT BREAK IN THE
RAIN MID TO LATE MORNING WITH ANOTHER ROUND OF SHOWERS AND MAYBE
AN ISOLATED THUNDER DEVELOPING BY LATE AFTERNOON INTO WEDNESDAY
EVENING. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE LAST OF THE HEAVIER RAINFALL WITH
THIS LOW AS THE LOW WILL START MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AND
SHIFTING THE MAIN CONVEYOR BELT OF MOISTURE AND CONVECTION OUT OF
THE AREA.
GRIFFIN
LONG TERM (FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY)...
THE UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EASTWARD ON
FRIDAY...KEEPING SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE AREA
THROUGH THE DAY...DIMINISHING IN THE EVENING HOURS. THE PERSISTENT
CLOUD COVER ON FRIDAY WILL KEEP TEMPERATURES COOL...WITH HIGHS IN
THE LOWER 60S EXPECTED. TEMPERATURES WILL WARM INTO THE WEEKEND AS
A RIDGE BUILDS INTO THE AREA AND SKIES BEGIN TO CLEAR. HIGH
TEMPERATURES WILL RISE INTO THE UPPER 60S BY SATURDAY WITH MID
70S EXPECTED BY SUNDAY. THESE WARMER TEMPERATURES WILL PERSIST
INTO THE BEGINNING OF THE WORK WEEK. THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR
MORE RAINFALL ON TUESDAY AS ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM PASSES JUST NORTH
OF THE AREA. SIGNIFICANT MODEL DIFFERENCES EXIST AT THIS TIME...SO
THERE IS NOT MUCH CONFIDENCE FOR THE TUESDAY PRECIPITATION
FORECAST AT THIS TIME.
KARDELL
&&
.AVIATION...
A LARGE AREA OF RAIN AND EMBEDDED SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL
PERSIST TONIGHT ACROSS SOUTHERN MISSOURI. MVFR CONDITIONS WILL
PREVAIL...HOWEVER BRIEF IFR CAN BE EXPECTED WITH HEAVIER RAIN.
HAVE THEN MAINTAINED MVFR INTO WEDNESDAY AS A BAND OF RAIN AND
EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS WILL PERSIST. CONFIDENCE IS A BIT LOWER
IN THE PLACEMENT OF THE PRECIPITATION ON WEDNESDAY...BUT DO THINK
IFR WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE WHERE THE HEAVIER RAIN SETS UP.
SCHAUMANN
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION...
/ISSUED 643 PM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012/
SHORT TERM (TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY)...
THE STALLED OUT UPPER LEVEL LOW IS CURRENTLY OVER WESTERN TEXAS
THIS AFTERNOON. SPOKES OF ENERGY CONTINUE TO PIN WHEEL AROUND THIS
SYSTEM BRINGING ROUNDS OF SHOWERS WITH ISOLATED STORMS. SO FAR
WITH THIS EVENT...THERE HAS BEEN A GENERAL 3 TO 5 INCHES OF
RAINFALL ALONG AND WEST OF HIGHWAY 71 WITH ONE TO TWO INCHES ALONG
AND WEST OF HIGHWAY 65. AREAL FLOODING AND RIVER FLOODING CONTINUES OVER
PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST KANSAS AND EXTREME WESTERN MISSOURI.
EXPECTING AN ADDITIONAL ONE TO THREE INCHES OF RAINFALL ACROSS THE
AREA WITH THE HIGHER AMOUNTS BETWEEN HIGHWAY 71 AND HIGHWAY 5
THROUGH TOMORROW NIGHT.
AS FOR THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT...WHILE THE SEVERE THREAT IS NOT
COMPLETELY ZERO...THE CHANCES ARE EXTREMELY LOW FOR A SEVERE WIND
GUST OR SPIN UP TORNADO. AGAIN THE LIMITING FACTOR CONTINUES TO BE
THE INSTABILITY TO DEVELOP DEEP CONVECTION. ONE BAND OF CONVECTION
WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS THE EASTERN OZARKS THIS EVENING WITH
ANOTHER BAND OF CONVECTION NOW DEVELOPING DOWN IN WESTERN ARKANSAS
WILL ROTATE UP ACROSS SOUTHEAST KANSAS AND SOUTHWEST MISSOURI
LATER THIS EVENING. ANY ADDITIONAL RAINFALL ON SATURATED GROUNDS
WILL AGGRAVATE AREA STREAMS AND RIVERS. THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN
OZARKS HAVEN'T SEEN THAT MUCH RAINFALL YET WITH THIS SYSTEM AND
WILL TAKE A WHILE FOR THE RAIN TO SATURATE THE GROUND IN THESE
AREAS. BUT IF THERE IS ANY TRAINING OF HEAVIER SHOWERS AND
STORMS...THERE COULD BE SOME ADDITIONAL FLOOD WARNINGS ISSUED
LATER TONIGHT. LOOKING AT MODEL DATA...SUGGESTION ANOTHER JET
STREAK COMING AROUND THE BASE OF THE UPPER LEVEL LOW UP THROUGH
THE OZARKS TONIGHT ALONG WITH A DECENT LOW LEVEL JET. THIS COULD
LEAD TO ANOTHER ENHANCEMENT OF RAINFALL LATER THIS EVENING FOR
SOUTHWEST MISSOURI.
LOOKING INTO TOMORROW...THERE APPEARS TO BE A SLIGHT BREAK IN THE
RAIN MID TO LATE MORNING WITH ANOTHER ROUND OF SHOWERS AND MAYBE
AN ISOLATED THUNDER DEVELOPING BY LATE AFTERNOON INTO WEDNESDAY
EVENING. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE LAST OF THE HEAVIER RAINFALL WITH
THIS LOW AS THE LOW WILL START MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AND
SHIFTING THE MAIN CONVEYOR BELT OF MOISTURE AND CONVECTION OUT OF
THE AREA.
GRIFFIN
LONG TERM (FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY)...
THE UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EASTWARD ON
FRIDAY...KEEPING SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE AREA
THROUGH THE DAY...DIMINISHING IN THE EVENING HOURS. THE PERSISTENT
CLOUD COVER ON FRIDAY WILL KEEP TEMPERATURES COOL...WITH HIGHS IN
THE LOWER 60S EXPECTED. TEMPERATURES WILL WARM INTO THE WEEKEND AS
A RIDGE BUILDS INTO THE AREA AND SKIES BEGIN TO CLEAR. HIGH TEMPERATURES
WILL RISE INTO THE UPPER 60S BY SATURDAY WITH MID 70S EXPECTED BY
SUNDAY. THESE WARMER TEMPERATURES WILL PERSIST INTO THE BEGINNING
OF THE WORK WEEK. THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR MORE RAINFALL ON
TUESDAY AS ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM PASSES JUST NORTH OF THE AREA.
SIGNIFICANT MODEL DIFFERENCES EXIST AT THIS TIME...SO THERE IS NOT
MUCH CONFIDENCE FOR THE TUESDAY PRECIPITATION FORECAST AT THIS TIME.
KARDELL
&&
.SGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MO...FLOOD WATCH THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR MOZ055>057-066>069-
077>081-088>096-101>105.
KS...FLOOD WATCH THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR KSZ073-097-101.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD MO 730 PM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012 KSZ073-097-101-MOZ055>058-066>071-077>083-088>098-101>106-220030- BOURBON-CRAWFORD-CHEROKEE-BENTON-MORGAN-MILLER-MARIES-VERNON- ST. CLAIR-HICKORY-CAMDEN-PULASKI-PHELPS-BARTON-CEDAR-POLK-DALLAS- LACLEDE-TEXAS-DENT-JASPER-DADE-GREENE-WEBSTER-WRIGHT-NEWTON- LAWRENCE-CHRISTIAN-DOUGLAS-HOWELL-SHANNON-MCDONALD-BARRY-STONE- TANEY-OZARK-OREGON- 730 PM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF THE MISSOURI OZARKS AND EXTREME SOUTHEAST KANSAS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. WEATHER HAZARDS EXPECTED... LIMITED TORNADO RISK. LIMITED THUNDERSTORM WIND DAMAGE RISK. SIGNIFICANT FLOODING RISK. LIMITED LIGHTNING RISK. DISCUSSION... PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT AS AN UPPER LEVEL LOW MOVES SLOWLY EAST INTO THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS. THIS WILL PRODUCE AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN WITH THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS EXPECTED ALONG THE HIGHWAY 65 CORRIDOR. ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS OR A BRIEF SHORT LIVED TORNADO WILL BE POSSIBLE THIS EVENING OVER SOUTH CENTRAL MISSOURI...BUT LIMITED INSTABILITY WILL MAKE THE PROBABILITY OF SEVERE WEATHER VERY LOW. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. ADDITIONAL LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN WILL OCCUR WEDNESDAY WITH THE HEAVIER RAINFALL SHIFTING EAST TO THE MISSOURI HIGHWAY 65 AND HIGHWAY 5 CORRIDORS. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE...BUT SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED IN THE NEXT SIX HOURS ALONG AND EAST OF AN OSAGE BEACH TO SEYMOUR TO AVA LINE. && THIS PRODUCT IS NOW AVAILABLE IN GRAPHICAL FORMAT...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE INFORMATION...AT HTTP://WWW.CRH.NOAA.GOV/SGF(ALL LOWERCASE) SCHAUMANN
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD MO
446 PM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0200 PM FLOOD 4 N JASPER 37.40N 94.31W
03/20/2012 BARTON MO DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
MODOT REPORTS HWY 126...ONE HALF MILE FROM U.S. 71 IS
FLOODED.
0240 PM FLOOD 2 N STOTESBURY 38.00N 94.57W
03/20/2012 VERNON MO DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
MODOT REPORTS HWY V AT RT D IS FLOODED AND CLOSED.
&&
BOXELLSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD MO
608 PM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012
MOZ105-202345-
OZARK MO-
608 PM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR OZARK COUNTY UNTIL 645 PM CDT...
AT 605 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 16 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF UDALL TO 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF PONTIAC TO 9 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
PONTIAC...MOVING NORTH AT 50 MPH. WINDS AROUND 45 MPH ARE EXPECTED
WITH THESE STORMS.
PEOPLE IN OZARK COUNTY...INCLUDING GAINESVILLE...SHOULD MONITOR THE
WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS AND BE
PREPARED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER THREATEN.
LAT...LON 3649 9267 3681 9263 3679 9211 3654 9212
3649 9213
TIME...MOT...LOC 2308Z 190DEG 44KT 3637 9237 3647 9244
3645 9251
WISESPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD MO 712 PM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012 MOZ096-097-105-210100- DOUGLAS MO-HOWELL MO-OZARK MO- 712 PM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN OZARK...SOUTHEASTERN DOUGLAS AND WESTERN HOWELL COUNTIES UNTIL 800 PM CDT... AT 707 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF BAKERSFIELD...OR 23 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WEST PLAINS...MOVING NORTH AT 50 MPH. PEA TO HALF INCH SIZE HAIL...AND WINDS AROUND 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. PEOPLE IN EASTERN OZARK...SOUTHEASTERN DOUGLAS AND WESTERN HOWELL COUNTIES...INCLUDING BAKERSFIELD...SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER THREATEN. LAT...LON 3697 9214 3695 9186 3649 9194 3649 9218 TIME...MOT...LOC 0012Z 186DEG 43KT 3650 9206 WISE
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD MO
726 PM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0705 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 S NORWOOD 37.09N 92.41W
03/20/2012 WRIGHT MO AMATEUR RADIO
REPORT OF POWERLINE DOWN ALONG HWY PP.
&&
BOXELLSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD MO
727 PM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012
MOZ081-082-092-210100-
LACLEDE MO-TEXAS MO-WRIGHT MO-
727 PM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN WRIGHT...NORTHWESTERN
TEXAS AND SOUTHEASTERN LACLEDE COUNTIES UNTIL 800 PM CDT...
AT 724 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES WEST OF
MANES TO MANES TO DAWSON...MOVING NORTH AT 50 MPH. WINDS AROUND 50
MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.
LAT...LON 3731 9240 3728 9264 3775 9251 3765 9226
3764 9225 3761 9224 3760 9212 3717 9225
TIME...MOT...LOC 0027Z 194DEG 50KT 3739 9250 3740 9237
3733 9230
WISEThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
15 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Route KK between Highway 43 and Route T south of Deerfield was closed due to flooding.
Several low water crossings were flooded along Highway Z.
Several low water crossings were flooded along Route V.
Several low water crossings were flooded.
Several low water crossings were flooded along Highway AB.
Dillion Road was flooded at the Finley Creek low water crossing.
Several low water crossings were flooded and one vehicle was stalled in high water.
Highway Z south Highway 60 was flooded and closed.
Greenwood and Cologna Roads were flooded north of Interstate 44 and several water rescues were conducted.
Portions of Highway 17 south of West Plains had water over the roadway.
A car stalled out in a low water crossing northwest of West Plains on County Road 5130. The roadway was closed.
Highway H was closed due to flooding and numerous low water crossings were flooded and impassable.
Highway 181 on Bryant Creek was flooded and closed.
Several low water crossings on Route E were closed due to flooding.
Flooding occurred along the Gasconade River in southeastern Laclede County. Water rose into a home near the river and Highway 35 south of Falcon. Evacuations of a nearby resort occurred due to rising river levels.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Missouri in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Missouri, March 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: 363316, 363317, 363318, 363319, 363320, 363321, 363322, 363323, 363324, 363325, 363326, 363327, 363328, 363329, 363330.