On the morning of the 3rd elevated thunderstorms developed on the nose of a low level jet. Once formed the storms were slow to move to the east.
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.
On the morning of the 3rd elevated thunderstorms developed on the nose of a low level jet. Once formed the storms were slow to move to the east. Additional developed allow for areas to receive large amounts of rain in a few hours.
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 Sep 3, 5:41 AM CST, 11 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 641 AM CDT Wed Sep 3 2014 ...Update to aviation forecast discussion... .SHORT TERM...(Today and Tonight) Issued at 300 AM CDT WED SEP 3 2014 Early Wednesday morning, scattered thunderstorms were ongoing across generally the eastern half of the forecast area. This convective development was linked to the eastern edge of a push of strong warm air and moisture advection, and on the nose of a 35 to 40 kt low level jet converging over the area. A NNW to SSE oriented band of the strongest isentropic ascent at 305K seemed to be one of the best features to follow in tracking the area of favored thunderstorm development. This area of strongest forcing is rather small, and is forecast to move east of the area and weaken by mid morning. Elevated CAPE of 1000 to 2000 J/kg was supporting strong storms, and have seen some signs of weak organization at times with effective shear generally in the 25 to 30 kt range. Expect these storms to maintain similar strength, pulsing up-and-down given the general lack of organization, and probably limiting any hail below severe limits. Lack of any strong downdrafts will keep the damaging wind potential very low, and storms have generally been progressive with spatially small updrafts so flooding is not likely. These storms should clear out of the area by late morning, in plenty of time to heat into the 90s for much of the area. The lower troposphere will be very moist, and dewpoints are likely to hold in the lower 70s for much of the area with a few mid 70s possible east. This should send the heat index into the 98-104 range for much of the area, below heat advisory criteria. Warm advection around 850 should keep the area capped during the afternoon, but will need to watch a weak short wave trough (evident on WV imagery this morning in southeast Colorado). Do not believe it will be strong enough to break the cap and currently do not have thunderstorm chances in the forecast, but on the off chance that the cap breaks, instability in the area will be strong to extreme by this afternoon. Overnight lows will remain quite warm, mainly in the mid 70s, owing to continued south winds and high boundary layer moisture content. .LONG TERM...(Thursday through Tuesday) Issued at 300 AM CDT WED SEP 3 2014 Major airmass changes in store for the extended with periodic chances for thunderstorms throughout the period. Thursday afternoon will be very warm and windy as a surface trough deepens in approach to a strong cold front tracking southeast over Nebraska. H85 temps from 21 to 25C and deep moisture advecting northeast through the CWA will raise highs to the middle 90s. Thermal axis near the boundary by late afternoon may warm temps a few more degrees to the upper 90s over north central KS. Heat indices from 99 to 102 degrees are likely. Ahead of the front, the increased moisture contributes to SFC cape in excess of 2000 J/KG by late afternoon. Sounding profiles show a weak capping inversion allowing for a few strong storms to form over north central areas through 00Z. Hail and wind would be the main hazards initially. Thunderstorm chances increase area wide late Thursday evening into Friday as the upper trough axis slowly migrates southeast with the cold front progressing through the region. Model guidance remains in decent agreement of post frontal scattered showers and thunderstorms to continue on Friday as mid level lift increases near the h85 front. Another upper shortwave trough passing through the region may also bring another round of showers and thunderstorms late Friday night. Weak flow and high precipitable water content could lead to locally heavy rain. Temperatures Friday begin in the 60s to near 70 degrees. Cold advection increases over north central areas where highs are only able to reach the lower 70s. Further south over far east central areas low 80s appear to be common. Area of high pressure drops southward Saturday clearing precipitation by the afternoon. A fall like airmass settles in with highs in the 70s Saturday and Sunday. Dependent on where the surface ridge axis is located during the morning periods, temperatures may be slightly cooler than forecast in the low to middle 50s. Upper pattern begins to shift Monday onward as the GFS and GEM eject a weaker shortwave trough over the western high plains. ECMWF is slower with this wave however agrees with a stronger shortwave trough pushing through the northern and central plains Tuesday. For this time will maintain chances for periodic thunderstorms as temperatures gradually warm back into the 80s for highs. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFs through 12Z Thursday Morning) Issued at 638 AM CDT WED SEP 3 2014 Very heavy rain with thunderstorms should end within the next hour or so at TOP/FOE. IFR to VLIFR conditions are expected with the storms. A period of broken MVFR cigs has developed at MHK and should persist through around 16Z. These cigs may move into TOP/FOE after storms depart, but have not included at this time. By late morning into the rest of the day, expect gusty south winds and VFR conditions. && .TOP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SHORT TERM...Barjenbruch LONG TERM...Bowen AVIATION...Barjenbruch
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 433 AM CDT WED SEP 3 2014 KSZ008>012-020>024-026-034>040-054>056-058-059-040945- REPUBLIC-WASHINGTON-MARSHALL-NEMAHA-BROWN-CLOUD-CLAY-RILEY- POTTAWATOMIE-JACKSON-JEFFERSON-OTTAWA-DICKINSON-GEARY-MORRIS- WABAUNSEE-SHAWNEE-DOUGLAS-LYON-OSAGE-FRANKLIN-COFFEY-ANDERSON- 433 AM CDT WED SEP 3 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL...NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST KANSAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS NEAR AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 70 WILL LINGER THROUGH LATE MORNING. A FEW STRONGER STORMS MAY PRODUCE SMALL HAIL. BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL IS LIKELY WITH THESE STORMS. HEAT INDEX VALUES THIS AFTERNOON RANGE FROM 99 TO 104 DEGREES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. HEAT INDEX VALUES RANGE FROM 100 TO 103 DEGREES THURSDAY AFTERNOON. A FRONTAL SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND LINGER IN THE AREA THROUGH SATURDAY. THERE WILL BE A CHANCE FOR SEVERAL ROUNDS OF THUNDERSTORMS WHILE THE FRONT IS IN THE AREA...WITH THE BEST CHANCES THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS SUNDAY EVENING. CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS INCREASE FOR THE OUTLOOK AREA MONDAY AND TUESDAY AS THE NEXT SYSTEM APPROACHES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS SHOULD NOT BE NEEDED TONIGHT.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
146 AM CDT WED SEP 3 2014
KSZ056-058-059-030715-
ANDERSON-COFFEY-FRANKLIN-
146 AM CDT WED SEP 3 2014
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN ANDERSON...
NORTHEASTERN COFFEY AND SOUTHWESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTIES...
THROUGH 215 AM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE EAST AT 30 MPH
ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHWESTERN ANDERSON...NORTHEASTERN COFFEY AND
SOUTHWESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTIES. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER
RADAR INDICATED THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL.
SOME LOCATIONS THAT COULD BE AFFECTED INCLUDE WAVERLY...WESTPHALIA
AND HARRIS.
&&
LAT...LON 3816 9571 3839 9576 3844 9560 3843 9551
3846 9551 3852 9531 3818 9526
TIME...MOT...LOC 0646Z 257DEG 25KT 3834 9563
BARJENBRUCHSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
329 AM CDT WED SEP 3 2014
KSZ039-030900-
SHAWNEE-
329 AM CDT WED SEP 3 2014
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN SHAWNEE COUNTY...
THROUGH 400 AM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE EAST AT 25 MPH
ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHWESTERN SHAWNEE COUNTY. NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
NICKEL SIZE HAIL. SOME LOCATIONS THAT COULD BE AFFECTED INCLUDE
ROSSVILLE AND SILVER LAKE.
&&
LAT...LON 3910 9596 3911 9597 3911 9600 3912 9601
3913 9599 3914 9600 3912 9602 3913 9604
3922 9603 3921 9570 3910 9570
TIME...MOT...LOC 0829Z 267DEG 23KT 3916 9600
BARJENBRUCHSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 425 AM CDT WED SEP 3 2014 KSZ026-039-040-031000- DOUGLAS-JEFFERSON-SHAWNEE- 425 AM CDT WED SEP 3 2014 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN SHAWNEE...SOUTHWESTERN JEFFERSON AND NORTHWESTERN DOUGLAS COUNTIES... THROUGH 500 AM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE EAST AT 25 MPH ACROSS PORTIONS OF EASTERN SHAWNEE...SOUTHWESTERN JEFFERSON AND NORTHWESTERN DOUGLAS COUNTIES. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 40 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT COULD BE AFFECTED INCLUDE TOPEKA...TECUMSEH...GRANTVILLE...PERRY LAKE...CLINTON LAKE...CLINTON...LECOMPTON AND PERRY. MOTORISTS ALONG THE KANSAS TURNPIKE BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 173 AND 197 COULD ALSO BE AFFECTED. && LAT...LON 3919 9536 3889 9531 3890 9574 3918 9577 TIME...MOT...LOC 0925Z 268DEG 23KT 3901 9563 BARJENBRUCH
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 459 AM CDT WED SEP 3 2014 KSZ024-039-031030- JACKSON-SHAWNEE- 459 AM CDT WED SEP 3 2014 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN SHAWNEE AND SOUTHEASTERN JACKSON COUNTIES... THROUGH 530 AM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE EAST AT 25 MPH ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL SHAWNEE AND SOUTHEASTERN JACKSON COUNTIES. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 40 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT COULD BE AFFECTED INCLUDE HOYT. && LAT...LON 3914 9588 3928 9590 3932 9559 3915 9559 TIME...MOT...LOC 0959Z 265DEG 20KT 3922 9581 BARJENBRUCH
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
632 AM CDT WED SEP 03 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0631 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 NE SILVER LAKE 39.12N 95.84W
09/03/2014 M2.52 INCH SHAWNEE KS TRAINED SPOTTER
24 HOUR TOTAL
&&
BYRNEPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
641 AM CDT WED SEP 03 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0641 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 N CLINTON LAKE 38.95N 95.40W
09/03/2014 M1.50 INCH DOUGLAS KS TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
BYRNEThe Topeka radar (KTWX), 51 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:51 UTC.
2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Water rescue operations for a motorist near the intersection of Seward and Golden.
Intersection of Haskell and 11th under water and roads in the area are closed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, September 2014
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: 535266, 535267.