Numerous thunderstorms produced torrential rains across parts of South-Central Kansas for much of the afternoon and evening. Major flooding occurred.
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 ICT wrote it up.
Numerous thunderstorms produced torrential rains across parts of South-Central Kansas for much of the afternoon and evening. Major flooding occurred. The most serious was that of a flash flood that occurred in Wichita. In parts of South and Southeast Wichita as well as West Wichita vehicles were submerged. Most of the parking lots at the Towne West Mall were flooded to depths around 3 feet. Rainfalls from 3-6 inches were widespread. Many streets were barricaded. Among them was Maple Avenue from I-235 to West Streets. The situation was exacerbated by heavy thunderstorms that produced torrential rains early in the morning. In fact, a staggering 5.60 inches was measured in Harper that morning.
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 Wichita, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 21, 5:49 AM CST, 1 hour earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 649 AM CDT TUE JUL 21 2015 ...UPDATED FOR 12Z AVIATION DISCUSSION... .SYNOPSIS... ISSUED AT 338 AM CDT TUE JUL 21 2015 WEAK DIFFUSE HIGH PRESSURE SPREAD ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS HAS PUSHED THE COLD FRONT THAT MOVED S/SE ACROSS THE KICT NEIGHBORHOOD CLOSER TO THE RED RIVER. AS EXPECTED THE WELL-DEFINED WEST-EAST ORIENTED AXIS OF NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS HAS LIKEWISE SHIFTED SLOWLY S...COVERING NEAR ALL OF THE NORTHERN HALF OF OK AT 2 AM. A CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY RAINS DOES CONTINUE OVER EASTERN SUMNER...COWLEY...& SOUTHERN BUTLER COUNTY. WITH THE ONSET OF NE-E 10-15MPH WINDS TEMPERATURES ARE SETTLING TO 70-75F IN MOST AREAS WITH SE KS STILL IN THE UPPER 70S. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 338 AM CDT TUE JUL 21 2015 TODAY-WED NIGHT: AS EXPECTED AN UPPER-DECK TROF MOVING E/SE IS SITUATED OVER THE GREAT LAKES EARLY THIS MORNING. WITH THE TROF CONTINUING TO STRENGTHEN AS IT CROSSES THE ONTARIO/QUEBEC BORDER THE SURFACE FRONT STRETCHED ACROSS SOUTHERN OK SHOULD STALL NEAR/ALONG THE RED RIVER TONIGHT AS THE LARGE BUT WEAK SURFACE HIGH CONTINUES TO DRIFT E TOWARD THE MID & UPPER MS VALLEY. THIS WOULD SHUNT MOST SHOWERS & THUNDERSTORMS TO THE S...SW & W OF KICT COUNTRY AS TODAY PROGRESSES. LATE TONIGHT THE FRONT WILL STILL TRANSITION INTO A WARM FRONT ACROSS SOUTHERN OK EARLY WED MORNING. THE FRONT IS DIFFUSE BUT WILL LIFT DUE N ACROSS THE KS/OK WED MORNING. AS SUCH...SHOWERS & THUNDERSTORMS WOULD ONCE AGAIN INCREASE... SPREADING SW-NE ACROSS KICT COUNTRY LATE TONIGHT & WED. THE THREAT FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS FAIRLY LOW BUT WITH A MID- LEVEL SHORTWAVE MOVING E ACROSS PRIMARILY NEBRASKA ON WED 6KM BULK SHEAR WOULD INCREASE. EXTENT OF LOW CLOUDINESS IS THE MAJOR DETERMINANT ON SEVERE POTENTIAL...HOWEVER A MOISTURE-RICH ENVIRONMENT WOULD TRANSLATE INTO A CONTINUED HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL. THU & THU NIGHT: AS THE WARM FRONT CONTINUES TO SURGE N/NE ACROSS THE KS/NEBRASKA BORDER THU NIGHT SHOWERS & THUNDERSTORMS WOULD LIKEWISE SHIFT E & NE OF THE KICT NEIGHBORHOOD THU MORNING. .LONG TERM...(FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 338 AM CDT TUE JUL 21 2015 NEXT WEEKEND: A RETURN TO MUCH WARMER WEATHER IS STILL SCHEDULED AS A MASSIVE UPPER-DECK RIDGE CONTINUES TO BUILD WITH A STRONG(!) -DECK HIGH (~595DM) COVERING ALL OF TX & NM...SO THE FURNACE WILL GET TURNED UP WITH 95-100F HIGHS LIKELY FOR ALL AREAS. THE STRONG... MASSIVE UPPER-DECK HIGH SHOULD KEEP THUNDERSTORM CHANCES IN CHECK FOR MOST PERIODS BUT DIURNAL HEATING & AMPLE MOISTURE WOULD INDUCE WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS SAT & SUN. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z WEDNESDAY MORNING) ISSUED AT 645 AM CDT TUE JUL 21 2015 MAIN AVIATION CONCERN WILL BE STORM CHANCES. SCATTERED STORMS HAVE BEEN ONGOING OVERNIGHT OVER FAR SOUTHERN KS IN AN AREA OF WEAK 850-700MB MOISTURE TRANSPORT IN AN UNCAPPED ENVIRONMENT ABOVE 850MB. THESE STORMS HAVE BEEN SLOW MOVING AND PRODUCING HEAVY RAINFALL. OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS KCNU WILL HAVE THE BEST CHANCE TO BE IMPACTED. WE SHOULD SEE A DECREASE IN ACTIVITY AS WE HEAD INTO THE AFTERNOON. HOWEVER...ADDITIONAL STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER SW KS LATE THIS AFTERNOON/EVENING AND SLOWLY TRACK EAST OVERNIGHT. THIS WILL BE THE RESULT OF AN UPPER IMPULSE LIFTING OUT OF THE SOUTHERN ROCKIES. THIS ACTIVITY WOULD MOST LIKELY AFFECT THE FORECAST AREA AFTER 02Z AND WOULD MAINLY AFFECT SOUTHERN KS(KICT-KCNU). LAWSON && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... WICHITA-KICT 85 70 86 74 / 30 60 50 30 HUTCHINSON 86 68 87 73 / 20 50 50 40 NEWTON 84 67 84 72 / 20 50 50 40 ELDORADO 84 68 85 73 / 20 50 50 40 WINFIELD-KWLD 84 70 86 75 / 50 70 50 20 RUSSELL 85 67 85 71 / 10 50 40 40 GREAT BEND 85 68 85 71 / 20 50 50 40 SALINA 86 68 86 72 / 10 40 50 50 MCPHERSON 85 68 85 72 / 10 50 50 50 COFFEYVILLE 84 71 86 75 / 40 60 50 30 CHANUTE 83 69 84 73 / 30 40 50 50 IOLA 82 68 83 72 / 20 40 50 50 PARSONS-KPPF 84 70 85 74 / 40 60 50 40 && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 555 AM CDT TUE JUL 21 2015 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-221015- RUSSELL-LINCOLN-BARTON-ELLSWORTH-SALINE-RICE-MCPHERSON-MARION-CHASE- RENO-HARVEY-BUTLER-GREENWOOD-WOODSON-ALLEN-KINGMAN-SEDGWICK-HARPER- SUMNER-COWLEY-ELK-WILSON-NEOSHO-CHAUTAUQUA-MONTGOMERY-LABETTE- 555 AM CDT TUE JUL 21 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL...SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS REMAIN POSSIBLE ACROSS PRIMARILY SOUTHERN KANSAS TODAY. THUNDERSTORMS WILL THEN SPREAD NORTHEAST ACROSS THE REGION TONIGHT. THE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE NEITHER STRONG NOR SEVERE. HOWEVER...HIGH RAINFALL RATES WITH THE STRONGER STORMS MAY LEAD TO FLOODING ACROSS SOUTHERN KANSAS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY THUNDERSTORMS...THAT MAY PRODUCE NICKEL-SIZED HAIL...WINDS AROUND 50 MPH AND VERY HEAVY RAINS...REMAIN POSSIBLE AREAWIDE WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE FOR PRIMARILY SOUTHEAST KANSAS ON THURSDAY AND FOR THE NORTHWEST HALF OF CENTRAL KANSAS THURSDAY NIGHT. THE THUNDERSTORMS WOULD BE NEITHER STRONG NOR SEVERE. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...A FEW THAT MAY PRODUCE SMALL HAIL AND 40 TO 50 MPH GUSTS...ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE WEEKEND...PRIMARILY FOR CENTRAL KANSAS. HEAT INDICES FROM 100 TO 103 ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS EXTREME SOUTHERN KANSAS THURSDAY AFTERNOON. HEAT INDICES WILL INCREASE TO 104 TO 108 ACROSS ALL AREAS FRIDAY AFTERNOON. HEAT INDICES FROM 100 TO 104 ARE POSSIBLE FOR MOST AREAS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AFTERNOONS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED TODAY OR TONIGHT. && FOR A GRAPHICAL VERSION OF THIS INFORMATION...SEE OUR WEBPAGE AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/WICHITA/HWO/ ES
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 432 AM CDT TUE JUL 21 2015 KSZ094-211000- ELK KS- 432 AM CDT TUE JUL 21 2015 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A * SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR... ELK COUNTY IN SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS... * UNTIL 500 AM CDT * AT 429 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES WEST OF SEVERY TO NEAR GRENOLA...AND MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. * LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... HOWARD...MOLINE...LONGTON...GRENOLA AND ELK FALLS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... THESE STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BECOME SEVERE. THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS. LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS...SHOULD THE RISK FOR MINOR LOW-LAND FLOODING BECOME MORE IMMINENT. && LAT...LON 3730 9651 3760 9649 3760 9604 3730 9600 TIME...MOT...LOC 0929Z 270DEG 20KT 3759 9639 3731 9638 LAWSON
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 641 AM CDT TUE JUL 21 2015 KSZ095-211215- WILSON KS- 641 AM CDT TUE JUL 21 2015 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A * SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR... SOUTHWESTERN WILSON COUNTY IN SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS... * UNTIL 715 AM CDT * AT 640 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL 6 MILES SOUTH OF FREDONIA...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... FREDONIA...NEW ALBANY AND BUXTON. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... THE STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BECOME SEVERE. THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS. LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS...SHOULD THE RISK FOR MINOR LOW-LAND FLOODING BECOME MORE IMMINENT. && LAT...LON 3760 9595 3761 9574 3739 9570 3739 9596 TIME...MOT...LOC 1140Z 280DEG 19KT 3743 9583 LAWSON
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
704 AM CDT TUE JUL 21 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0701 AM HEAVY RAIN HALE 37.23N 96.02W
07/21/2015 M1.51 INCH CHAUTAUQUA KS CO-OP OBSERVER
COOPERATIVE OBSERVER MEASURING 1.51 INCHES OF RAIN IN THE
LAST 24 HOURS.
&&
VJPSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 714 AM CDT TUE JUL 21 2015 KSZ091-211245- HARPER KS- 714 AM CDT TUE JUL 21 2015 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A * SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR... HARPER COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS... * UNTIL 745 AM CDT * AT 712 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF ATTICA TO 9 MILES WEST OF CALDWELL...AND MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. * LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... ANTHONY...HARPER...ATTICA...BLUFF CITY...DANVILLE...FREEPORT... CRYSTAL SPRINGS...RUNNYMEDE AND CORWIN. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... THESE STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BECOME SEVERE. THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS. LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS...SHOULD THE RISK FOR MINOR LOW-LAND FLOODING BECOME MORE IMMINENT. && LAT...LON 3700 9835 3738 9835 3738 9780 3701 9780 TIME...MOT...LOC 1212Z 268DEG 17KT 3735 9831 3708 9777 LAWSON
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
720 AM CDT TUE JUL 21 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0701 AM HEAVY RAIN CHAUTAUQUA 37.02N 96.18W
07/21/2015 M4.87 INCH CHAUTAUQUA KS CO-OP OBSERVER
COOPERATIVE OBSERVER REPORTS A MEASUREMENT OF 4.87 INCHES
IN THE LAST 24 HOURS.
&&
VJPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
724 AM CDT TUE JUL 21 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN LONGTON 37.38N 96.08W
07/21/2015 M2.32 INCH ELK KS CO-OP OBSERVER
MEASUREMENT FOR THE LAST 24 HOURS.
&&
VJPThe Vance AFB radar (KVNX), 42 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:50 UTC.
5 flood, 3 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Law enforcement reported flooding along a segment of Highway 44.
The flooding occurred in the town of Harper that no doubt included most of the town's streets.
KAKE Channel 10 reported the flooding at Towne West Mall parking lot.
Street flooding occurred in and around Haven.
Radio Station KFDI reported that cars were submerged at the Harry/Seneca intersection in Southeast Wichita.
KAKE Channel 10 reported that Maple Avenue is closed from I-235 to West Street. No damage was reported.
Rainfall estimated from 3.25 inches to 3.50 inches caused flooding in and near the Ridge Road/Central Avenue intersection.
There were numerous reports of submerged cars in Southeast Wichita. This would include Pawnee and 31st St. S. as well as on W. Harry and Southwest Blvd.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, July 2015
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: 595449, 595451, 595470, 595471, 595428, 595434, 595472, 595446.