Tornado and Flash Flooding in Missouri, July 6, 2015

Name: Tornado and Flash Flooding in Missouri, July 6, 2015
Start: 2015-07-06T14:08
End: 2015-07-06T21:49
Location: Missouri

July 6, 2015 · NWS EAX · 14 events in 5 counties and zones

A slow moving cold front advanced into an extremely unstable air mass over eastern Kansas and northwestern and west central Missouri. Thunderstorms developed along the front producing extremely heavy rain, with some areas seeing up to 6, flash flooding, damaging winds and a few tornadoes.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 14

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS EAX wrote it up.

What forecasters said that day

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 Jul 6, 12:34 PM CST, 1 hour 34 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 6, 12:34 PM CST, 1 hour 34 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO
ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD MO
134 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2015

.SHORT TERM...(This Evening through Tuesday)

An episode of strong to severe thunderstorms is expected this
afternoon and evening across eastern Kansas and much of western
Missouri. Large hail, damaging wind gusts, and torrential rainfall
are all possible with these storms. Rainfall rates combined with
moist soil conditions will lead to a flash flood risk in any areas
that experiences heavy rain.

A Flash Flood Watch has been posted for areas along and south of a
line from St. Joseph to Kirksville.

Short term models suggest that the severe risk could move into
southwest and central Missouri by 11pm tonight, with residual showers
lingering over northern Missouri into Tuesday morning.

For the rest of Tuesday, it's difficult to determine where the effective
surface front will be located due to convective outflow, cloud cover,
and rain contamination. Therefore will will continue the higher POPS
over west central and central Missouri through Tuesday afternoon, with
much lower POPS over northern Missouri. This forecast is based on a
frontal position across the Ozarks.

Highs on Tuesday may only reach the middle 70s as a cooler northern
Plains airmass spreads into the region.

.LONG TERM...(Tuesday Night through Monday)

Regarding Tuesday night, it appears as though the bulk of the heavy
rain and flooding will occur over Oklahoma as a shortwave trough
moves in from the southwest. This rainfall will eventually spread
into central and southern Missouri Wednesday morning.

Therefore Tuesday night through Wednesday, we will focus the higher
rainfall probabilities across west central and central Missouri.

Models suggest the surface front will remain over southern Missouri
through Wednesday night, focusing the bulk of the precipitation south
of I-70. However, by Thursday and Thursday night, this front is
expected to track back to the north, bringing additional rainfall to
northern Missouri.

As we progress toward the weekend, the summertime high is expected to
build across the nation's mid section, bringing hot and dry weather
to northern and western Missouri. Look for temperatures to warm into
the 80s and possibly the lower 90s by Friday and Saturday afternoons.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Tuesday Morning)

Little change to ongoing forecast. VFR conditions continue early this
afternoon with gusty southerly winds. Cold front projected to arrive
at terminals between 21-00z. Increasing chances for thunderstorms
expected with cold front approach and behind frontal boundary.
Widespread rain should gradually clear terminals overnight tonight
with only a few scattered showers expected Tuesday AM. MVFR
precipitation and post-frontal conditions.

&&

.EAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KS...FLASH FLOOD WATCH from 7 PM CDT this evening through Wednesday
     evening FOR KSZ057-060-103>105.

MO...FLASH FLOOD WATCH from 7 PM CDT this evening through Wednesday
     evening FOR MOZ013>017-020>025-028>033-037>040-043>046-053-
     054.

&&

SHORT TERM...CRAMER
LONG TERM...CRAMER
AVIATION...Blair

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 6, 11:45 AM CST, 2 hours 23 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO
ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD MO
1245 PM CDT MON JUL 6 2015

KSZ025-057-060-102>105-MOZ001>008-011>017-020>025-028>033-037>040-
043>046-053-054-071745-
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-
1245 PM CDT MON JUL 6 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST...NORTH CENTRAL AND
WEST CENTRAL MISSOURI...AS WELL AS EXTREME EASTERN KANSAS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

 THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON FROM NORTHWESTERN
 MISSOURI INTO NORTHEASTERN KANSAS AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD
 FRONT. THESE STORMS WILL THEN SINK TO THE SOUTHEAST ACROSS
 NORTHERN MISSOURI AND EAST CENTRAL KANSAS FROM THIS EVENING INTO
 THE OVERNIGHT PERIOD.

 SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY BE SEVERE FROM THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS
 EVENING WITH DAMAGING WIND GUSTS UP TO 70 MPH BEING THE MAIN
 POTENTIAL SEVERE WEATHER HAZARD. SOME STORMS MAY ALSO PRODUCE
 HAIL TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES.

 IN ADDITION TO THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE STORMS...TORRENTIAL
 RAINFALL AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING WILL ACCOMPANY THESE STORMS.
 FLASH FLOODING WILL BECOME AN INCREASING RISK FROM LATE THIS
 AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY OVER AREAS GENERALLY ALONG AND
 SOUTH OF A LINE FROM ATCHISON KANSAS TO SAINT JOSEPH TO KIRKSVILLE
 MISSOURI.

 MORE DETAILED INFORMATION CAN BE ACCESSED AT...
 HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/EAX/HWO

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

 THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL CONTINUE TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. THE MAIN
 CONCERN WITH THESE STORMS WILL BE FLASH FLOODING. A FLASH FLOOD
 WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY FOR LOCATIONS SOUTH OF A LINE
 FROM ATCHISON KANSAS TO SAINT JOSEPH TO KIRKSVILLE MISSOURI.

 MORE DETAILED INFORMATION CAN BE ACCESSED AT...
 HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/EAX/HWO

SCHAUMANN

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 6, 1:26 PM CST, 42 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
226 PM CDT MON JUL 6 2015

MOZ005-014-062000-
HARRISON-DAVIESS-
226 PM CDT MON JUL 6 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN DAVIESS AND
SOUTHWESTERN HARRISON COUNTIES UNTIL 300 PM CDT...

AT 225 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
NEW HAMPTON...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
BETHANY AND NEW HAMPTON.

LAT...LON 4026 9390 4007 9394 4010 9422 4028 9421
TIME...MOT...LOC 1925Z 278DEG 18KT 4020 9417

BLAIR

Special weather statement, Jul 6, 1:44 PM CST, 24 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
244 PM CDT MON JUL 6 2015

MOZ012-020-062015-
BUCHANAN-ANDREW-
244 PM CDT MON JUL 6 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN ANDREW AND
NORTHEASTERN BUCHANAN COUNTIES UNTIL 315 PM CDT...

AT 243 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
COUNTRY CLUB VILLA...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ST. JOSEPH...SAVANNAH...COUNTRY CLUB VILLA AND COUNTRY CLUB.

LAT...LON 3998 9461 3980 9460 3975 9460 3978 9487
      3983 9488 3984 9490 3997 9485
TIME...MOT...LOC 1943Z 278DEG 17KT 3985 9481

BLAIR

Local storm report, Jul 6, 2:08 PM CST, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO
308 PM CDT MON JUL 6 2015

...TIME...  ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
...DATE...  ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0240 PM     HEAVY RAIN       ALBANY                  40.25N 94.33W
07/06/2015  E1.81 INCH       GENTRY             MO   COUNTY OFFICIAL

            FELL IN 45 MINUTES

&&

SMB

The radar

The Pleasant Hill radar (KEAX), 115 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:09 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 thunderstorm wind, 6 flash flood, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, De Kalb

When: July 6, 2:08 PM CST
Where: De Kalb County, Clarksdale
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 39.820, -94.570

A small tree limb was blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clay

When: July 6, 4:00 PM CST
Where: Clay County, 0.37 mi SSE of Linden
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 39.196, -94.576

Tree damage was reported at North Oak Trafficway and Englewood Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clay

When: July 6, 4:00 PM CST
Where: Clay County, 1.06 mi NNW of Glenaire
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 39.243, -94.460

Minor damage was done to the roof of a Walmart and debris from the roof caused car windows to be blown out in the parking lot and adjacent gas station.

Tornado, Clay

When: July 6, 4:04 PM CST to 4:07 PM CST
Where: Clay County, 0.84 mi ENE of Glenaire to 1.42 mi SE of Liberty
Rating: EF0
Path length: 1.23 mi
Path width: 40 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 39.236, -94.436

The tornado caused damage to numerous trees along its path.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clay

When: July 6, 4:06 PM CST
Where: Clay County, 1.75 mi ENE of Bigham Hgt
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 39.260, -94.550

Public reported 60 mph winds.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clay

When: July 6, 4:10 PM CST
Where: Clay County, 0.87 mi NW of Glenaire
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 39.240, -94.460

Debris was reported in the roadway.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clay

When: July 6, 4:26 PM CST
Where: Clay County, 1 mi N of Bigham Hgt
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 39.264, -94.576

Tree damage at 94th st near North Oak Trafficway.

Flash Flood, Clinton

When: July 6, 4:32 PM CST to 8:32 PM CST
Where: Clinton County, 0.7 mi SE of Plattsburg to 0.45 mi ESE of Plattsburg
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.564, -94.460

Flash flooding was relayed via amateur radio. Highway 116 just west of Route Y was closed with 6 to 8 inches of water flowing over the road.

Flash Flood, Platte

When: July 6, 4:39 PM CST to 8:39 PM CST
Where: Platte County, 3.49 mi SSE of Ridgely to 3.66 mi SE of Ridgely
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.406, -94.617

From approximately 2990 to 2285 KK highway, northwest of Smithville, MO, the road was impassable due to high water.

Thunderstorm Wind, Platte

When: July 6, 5:49 PM CST
Where: Platte County, Iatan
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 39.480, -94.980

Trees were blown down onto Highway 45.

Flash Flood, Platte

When: July 6, 5:49 PM CST to 9:49 PM CST
Where: Platte County, 1.89 mi ESE of Weston to 1.87 mi ESE of Weston
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 39.409, -94.888

A small bridge over a creek near Humes Rd and Goodlet Circle was flooded.

Flash Flood, Platte

When: July 6, 5:49 PM CST to 9:49 PM CST
Where: Platte County, 1.43 mi E of Weston to 1.15 mi E of Weston
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 39.416, -94.894

Flooding was reported near the intersection of P Highway and Highway 273/45 through Weston.

Flash Flood, Platte

When: July 6, 6:00 PM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Platte County, 0.23 mi NNE of Edgerton to 0.33 mi N of Edgerton
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 39.503, -94.628

A photo showed water from Grove Creek flowing over Clark Avenue.

Flash Flood, Jackson

When: July 6, 6:14 PM CST to 9:14 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, 1.21 mi NE of Kansas City Heart Ar to 1.07 mi NNE of Kansas City Heart Ar
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 39.084, -94.486

Southbound I-435 at 23rd street was shutdown due to flash flooding. Cars were stalled on the highway in the flood waters.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Missouri in 2015 Every state in 2015 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Missouri, 2015 Warnings in Missouri, July 2015

Sources

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: 594388, 594381, 594384, 595715, 594389, 594382, 594383, 594949, 594953, 594387, 594963, 594966, 594967, 594969.