Multiple boundaries across the Ozarks region, combined with very a moist and unstable air mass, and an upper level shortwave produced significant rainfall across portions of the area. While some wind damage was reported, the primary impact from the storms was areas of significant 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.
Multiple boundaries across the Ozarks region, combined with very a moist and unstable air mass, and an upper level shortwave produced significant rainfall across portions of the area. While some wind damage was reported, the primary impact from the storms was areas of significant flooding. Most location received between 1-3 inches of rain, however, scattered reports in excess of 6 inches occurred over several days.
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 Aug 2, 10:05 PM CST, 10 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD MO
1105 PM CDT Fri Aug 2 2013
...Thunderstorms Increasing Overnight...
.MESOSCALE DISCUSSION...
Issued AT 1055 PM CDT FRI AUG 2 2013
A cluster of thunderstorms had developed across portions of
central Missouri this evening on the nose of a modest low level
jet. These storms will continue to percolate as they spread
southeastward into the eastern Ozarks. A few intense updrafts may
develop at times but expect these storms to primarily remain below
severe limits.
A another more substantial convective complex continued to evolve
across south central Kansas with infrared imagery depicting an
expanding area of cooling cloud tops. This convection was forming
on the nose of another but stronger low level jet positioned
across the Plains.
This convective complex will continue to spread eastward and eventually
turn to the southeast overnight as the low level jet gradually
veers. These storms will ride southeastward overnight as suggested
by progged Corfidi vectors down the instability/moisture axis
stretching from east central Kansas across southwestern Missouri
into northwestern Arkansas.
Mixed layer CAPE values of 2500 to 3500 J/KG will likely persist
within this axis overnight. This along with modest deep layer
shear will support the potential for strong to locally severe
storms.
0-3 KM bulk shear vectors are progged to become more northwest to
southeast oriented which would suggest the risk of localized
damaging winds bowing segments surging to the southeast.
It now appears the storm complex will arrive in extreme southeastern
Kansas and far southwestern Missouri after 1 PM barring additional
development.
Additional thunderstorm development will be possible across the
remainder of the Missouri Ozarks as the low level jet
strengthens a bit more. Expect a general increase in thunderstorm
coverage across all of the Missouri Ozarks overnight with activity
most concentrated across the eastern Ozarks...and generally west
of Highway 65.
The 00z sounding shows precipitable water values near 2 inches.
This will lead to torrential rainfall rates with any storm. The
risk for flash flooding will have to be closely monitored
overnight.
&&
.SHORT TERM...(This Evening through Saturday)
ISSUED AT 316 PM CDT FRI AUG 2 2013
The flat ridge over the southern states is expected to amplify
slightly on its western end and retrograde westward in response to a
short wave moving around the Hudson Bay low. This will allow the
surface front to sag to near the Missouri-Arkansas border by late
Saturday into Sunday. This will act as a focus for several rounds
of showers and thunderstorms that will produce locally heavy
rainfall. With instability and shear profiles as they are, strong
to severe thunderstorms late this afternoon into this evening
cannot be ruled out.
However, the larger threat remains heavy rain. With soils already
saturated from rains earlier this week, it will not take much
rainfall to create a lot of run off. The combination of high
precipitable water values, a nocturnal low level jet, and subtle short
waves in the northwest flow interacting with the surface front and
any outflow boundaries should create several rounds of moderate to
heavy rains through the weekend. The heaviest rain area will be
situated along a Warsaw to West Plains line.
.LONG TERM...(Saturday Night through Friday)
ISSUED AT 316 PM CDT FRI AUG 2 2013
The pattern will continue through the remainder of the period. By
Monday, the surface front will stall and meander over the Arkansas
region before it eventually washes out. Yet another front
approaches on Wednesday to provide yet another round of rain,
which stays around through the remainder of the forecast period.
Rainfall amounts, at this time, do not look to be as heavy as
expected this weekend, but are forecast to fall of the same area
as this weekend's rainfall. Will continue to monitor this situation.
Temperatures are expected to be slightly below normal for daytime
highs, but slightly above normal for overnight lows due to the
high dew points.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Saturday Night)
ISSUED AT 1055 PM CDT FRI AUG 2 2013
Pilots can expect an increasing coverage of thunderstorms
overnight.
Areas of MVFR conditions will develop within the areas of storms
during the overnight hours. The storms will linger but gradually
diminish Saturday morning with some lingering MVFR ceilings.
VFR conditions will prevail by Saturday afternoon but a few storms
will redevelop. The chance of storms continue into Saturday
evening.
Marginal low level wind shear may also impact the region overnight.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
Multiple rounds of rain/thunderstorms appear increasingly likely
over the next several days across the region. Rainfall through the
weekend across the region looks to range in the 1-3 inch range,
with the potential for higher local amounts depending on the track
of thunderstorms. This heavy rain, combined with very saturated
soils, will result in a considerable flash flood threat for the
next several days. A Flash Flood Watch continues from this afternoon
through Monday morning. In addition to the flash flood threat,
many area rivers will likely rise to or above flood stage at some
point in the next several days.
&&
.SGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MO...FLASH FLOOD WATCH through Monday morning FOR MOZ055>058-066>071-
077>083-088>098-101>106.
KS...FLASH FLOOD WATCH through Monday morning FOR KSZ073-097-101.
&&
MESOSCALE...Foster
SHORT TERM...Gaede
LONG TERM...Gaede
AVIATION...Foster
HYDROLOGY...GaedeHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD MO 727 PM CDT FRI AUG 2 2013 KSZ073-097-101-MOZ055>058-066>071-077>083-088>098-101>106-040030- 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- 727 PM CDT FRI AUG 2 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF THE MISSOURI OZARKS AND EXTREME SOUTHEAST KANSAS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. WEATHER HAZARDS EXPECTED... LIMITED HAIL RISK. ELEVATED THUNDERSTORM WIND DAMAGE RISK. ELEVATED FLOODING RISK. ELEVATED LIGHTNING RISK. LIMITED EXCESSIVE HEAT RISK. DISCUSSION... THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT WITH BRIEF DOWNPOURS AND OCCASIONAL LIGHTING WILL REMAIN LOCALIZED THROUGH MUCH OF THE EVENING. A THUNDERSTORM COMPLEX IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS SOUTHERN KANSAS THIS EVENING AND TRACK EASTWARD INTO SOUTHWESTERN MISSOURI OVERNIGHT. THESE STORMS WILL INITIALLY IMPACT AREAS ALONG AND WEST OF INTERSTATE 49...OR ALONG AND WEST OF A JOPLIN TO NEVADA LINE AFTER 11 PM. THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE FROM THE WEST ACROSS THE MISSOURI OZARKS AFTER MIDNIGHT. SOME OF THE STORMS LATE TONIGHT WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH...AND HAIL TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS. THESE STORMS WILL ALSO PRODUCE TORRENTIAL RAINFALL RATES WHICH COULD LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. HEAVY RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE DURING THE DAY ON SATURDAY...WITH A SOMEWHAT MORE ORGANIZED CHANCE FOR HEAVY RAIN AGAIN DEVELOPING SATURDAY NIGHT INTO THE DAYTIME HOURS ON SUNDAY. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MONDAY MORNING. ADDITIONAL ROUNDS OF THUNDERSTORMS MAY THEN OCCUR DURING THE EARLY AND MIDDLE PORTIONS OF NEXT WEEK. HEAT INDEX VALUES COULD REACH THE MID TO UPPER 90S DURING THE AFTERNOON OVER PORTIONS OF EXTREME SOUTHEAST KANSAS AND WESTERN MISSOURI DURING THE WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED LATE TONIGHT ACROSS EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS AND FAR SOUTHWESTERN MISSOURI. && 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) FOSTER
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD MO
901 PM CDT FRI AUG 2 2013
MOZ057-070-071-030245-
MILLER MO-PHELPS MO-PULASKI MO-
901 PM CDT FRI AUG 2 2013
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN PULASKI...
SOUTHEASTERN MILLER AND WEST CENTRAL PHELPS COUNTIES UNTIL 945 PM
CDT...
AT 858 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES NORTH OF CROCKER...OR 12 MILES NORTH OF
WAYNESVILLE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH. PENNY SIZE HAIL...AND WINDS
AROUND 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE CROCKER...DIXON...DOOLITTLE AND NEWBURG.
INTERSTATE 44 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 160 AND 179 WILL ALSO BE IMPACTED
BY THIS STORM.
THUNDERSTORMS POSE A VARIETY OF HAZARDS TO THOSE OUTDOORS...INCLUDING
HAIL... STRONG WINDS THAT CAN CREATE DANGEROUS FLYING PROJECTILES AND
DEBRIS...AS WELL AS DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. IF YOU ARE IN
THE PATH OF THIS STORM...MOVE INDOORS TO A STURDY SHELTER
IMMEDIATELY.
LAT...LON 3807 9218 3802 9218 3801 9200 3797 9188
3784 9187 3776 9202 3797 9235 3810 9227
TIME...MOT...LOC 0201Z 299DEG 18KT 3799 9223
HATCHThe St Louis radar (KLSX), 143 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:14 UTC.
24 flash flood, 9 heavy rain, 7 thunderstorm wind, 3 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
The Marie's River was reported out of its banks and flowing 3 to 5 feet deep over the low water crossing on County Roads 623 and 642.
A car was reported as flooded out at the Highway 60 exit to West Business 60 in town.
A few trees were reported down near the intersection of Highway 14 and Farm Road 181.
Multiple Trees of fourteen to twenty inches in diameter were blown over.
A trailer home was pushed of its block foundation and damaged in several places.
Several power or phone poles were reported down along Z Highway.
A ham radio operator reported the wind gust though no damage was observed.
Several large trees were reported down or uprooted near the intersection of Farm Road 199 and Highway J.
A tractor trailer was blown off the road along Highway 65 between the Highway CC exit and the Greene County line. The driver was uninjured.
A water rescue was performed on Highway B along the James River and Panther Creek.
Numerous roads were reported as flooded or washed out near Highways A and 123. A water rescue occurred in this area as water started to approach a structure.
A vehicle was reported washed into Panther Creek.
Highway DD, east of town was reported as flooded and impassable.
A water rescue was performed where Highway W crossed the West Fork Niangua River.
Numerous low water roads and bridges were closed northwest of town from heavy rainfall.
Highway EE was closed to traffic where it crossed the North Fork River.
The public reported that the eight inch rain gauge they had was overflowing.
A foot of water was running over Route Y near Cowskin Creek.
Missouri Highway 97 was closed to traffic where it crosses the Spring River due to flooding.
State Highway Y was covered by a foot of water near County Road 519 along Cowskin Creek.
The spotters rain gauge was full and overflowing. Rainfall amounts occurred over a 6 hour period.
Route H near the Patrick Bridge Access area was reported flooded and closed to traffic.
State Route AA was closed due to flood waters where it crossed White Oak Creek.
State Route 142 was closed due to flooding.
Interstate 49 northbound lanes were closed due to flooding near Kaw Rapids Road. Route W north near Highland Avenue was closed due to flooding. Highway 54 was closed due to flooding near Little Dry Wood Creek. Route K was closed due to flooding.
Missouri Route 39 was closed due to flooding between Neola and Arcola. Missouri Route 39 was closed due to flooding just south of Broad Street in Greenfield.
Missouri Route 39 was closed due to flooding near Miller.
The low water bridge on County Road 2140 and Highway Y was flooded and impassable.
The low water crossing at McDowells Bend was impassable due to high water.
Long Creek Road off of Highway YY was under water and impassable.
Highway 125 was closed due to flooding near Sparta.
A twenty-four hour rainfall total of 4.73 inches was measured.
Route E was closed near the Little Niangua River.
A picture from social media showed residential streets flooded in Marshfield.
One to two feet of water was flowing over Highway W.
Highway J was closed in both directions at the Osage Fork.
A six hour rainfall total of 3.50 inches was measured and a storm total estimated in excess of 10 inches.
Highway NN, just east of Highway TT was closed in both directions due to flooding.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Missouri in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Missouri, August 2013
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: 457821, 457822, 457780, 457783, 457778, 457779, 457777, 457784, 457781, 457830, 457823, 457824, 457829, 457833, 457785, 457835, 457831, 457812, 457788, 457786, 457791, 457832, 457792, 457837, 457839, 457811, 457836, 457838, 457840, 461603, 461607, 461608, 461616, 461628, 461630, 461609, 461632, 461610, 461612, 461614, and more.