A front that had been stationary along and just south of the Oklahoma/Kansas state line transitioned into a warm front that lifted slowly north into primarily Southeast Kansas. Warm and very moist advection coupled with an approaching mid-level shortwave produced rains that were sufficiently heavy to cause flooding in parts of Southeast Kansas late on the night of the 25th to the 26th.
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.
A front that had been stationary along and just south of the Oklahoma/Kansas state line transitioned into a warm front that lifted slowly north into primarily Southeast Kansas. Warm and very moist advection coupled with an approaching mid-level shortwave produced rains that were sufficiently heavy to cause flooding in parts of Southeast Kansas late on the night of the 25th to the 26th.
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 Aug 25, 11:02 PM CST, 41 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 1202 AM CDT FRI AUG 26 2016 .UPDATE... Issued at 932 PM CDT Thu Aug 25 2016 The severe threat has waned across the forecast area, as all the surface-based thunderstorms remained closely tied to the surface front across Oklahoma. However, still expecting thunderstorm chances to gradually increase from the south overnight, as the frontal zone begins to shift north across the region in response to the approaching upper trough across the southern Rockies. Beginning to see signs of this as regional 850mb winds per radar VWPs are backing to a more south/southeasterly direction. Latest short-term hi-res guidance (i.e. HRRR, RAP) also supports a gradual increase in convection overnight. Thinking strongest activity will be capable of dime size hail, gusty winds and locally heavy rainfall rates. While enthusiasm for the flash flood watch currently in effect has waned, cannot rule out isolated occurrences of flooding/flash flooding overnight, so will keep it going through 7am Friday. && .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Sunday night) Issued at 300 PM CDT Thu Aug 25 2016 A stalled frontal boundary will create an active weather pattern for the next several days. PW values are rather high in the 1-1.5 inch range providing some high octane moisture for convection to work with. Moisture transport and deep layer shear are present but not great. This will make for the efficient rain makers overnight tonight. Best chances are from the Turnpike to the East. An isolated severe thunderstorm is also possible overnight with wind being the primary threat. Localized flooding is possible in some areas of South Central and Central Kansas. Based on the moisture and the above mentioned atmospheric parameters and collaboration with surrounding offices, issuing a Flood Watch for the overnight time period for much of Central and South Central Kansas. The next question is the amount of precipitation for Friday afternoon through Saturday. The frontal boundary remains over the CWA. Models still indicate high octane moisture present with PW staying near 1.5 inches. Additionally, expect some waves moving along the front Friday night which will allow for some more convection to get going. Again, expect many of the thunderstorms to be efficient rain produces with locally heavy rain likely. Can't rule out an isolated severe storm as well. Temperatures look to remain just below normal due the increased cloud cover. Overnight lows will likely be near or just above normal as there just does not seem to be any good push of cooler drier air moving into the area. Sunday looks to be a little drier but moisture will remain high which will keeping the clouds in the area. PW looks to drop to around an inch keeping plenty of fuel for thunderstorms, just not as much. This will keep the temperatures down some. Showers and thunderstorms will still be possible with some locally heavy rain but more scattered late afternoon Sunday and Sunday night. .LONG TERM...(Monday through Thursday) Issued at 300 PM CDT Thu Aug 25 2016 The extended forecast still looks active with scattered showers and thunderstorms likely. Right now the chances for heavy rain looks to be Monday and Monday night. Tuesday and Wednesday looks a little warmer and more isolated showers and thunderstorms. This will allow temperatures to get a little warmer and possibility just above normal. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Friday night) Issued at 1159 PM CDT Thu Aug 25 2016 Areas of showers and thunderstorms will continue to spread north across the region overnight into early Friday morning. The primary threats will be locally intense rainfall rates, along with gusty winds and perhaps small hail. Included VCTS at most sites, and even included TEMPO +TSRA for a few hours at Wichita and Hutchinson. Overnight shift will continue to monitor for possible amendments to account for this thunderstorm activity. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Wichita-KICT 67 84 69 88 / 60 50 40 30 Hutchinson 65 81 68 87 / 60 50 40 30 Newton 65 81 67 86 / 60 50 40 30 ElDorado 66 83 68 87 / 60 50 40 30 Winfield-KWLD 68 87 69 89 / 70 40 40 30 Russell 60 77 64 85 / 30 40 40 30 Great Bend 60 79 65 86 / 30 40 40 30 Salina 63 80 68 86 / 50 50 40 40 McPherson 64 80 67 86 / 60 50 40 40 Coffeyville 70 88 69 90 / 50 40 30 40 Chanute 69 86 69 87 / 60 40 40 40 Iola 69 85 69 87 / 70 40 40 40 Parsons-KPPF 69 86 69 88 / 50 40 30 40 && .ICT Watches/Warnings/Advisories... Flash Flood Watch until 7 AM CDT Friday for KSZ051>053-067>072- 082-083-091>095. && UPDATE...ADK SHORT TERM...ELM LONG TERM...ELM AVIATION...ADK
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 833 PM CDT THU AUG 25 2016 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-270145- 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- 833 PM CDT THU AUG 25 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL KANSAS, SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED LATER TONIGHT...MAINLY AFTER MIDNIGHT...ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL AND MUCH OF SOUTHEAST KANSAS. WHILE A FEW STRONG STORMS WITH SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE...THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WITH POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING. PLEASE MONITOR THE UPCOMING FORECASTS CLOSELY AS AREAL FLOOD WARNINGS AND RIVER FLOOD WARNINGS MAY BE NEEDED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY OFF AND ON STORM CHANCES COULD LINGER FROM FRIDAY THROUGH AT LEAST EARLY NEXT WEEK. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE THE MAIN CONCERN...BUT A FEW STRONG STORMS CANNOT BE BE RULED OUT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED TONIGHT. && FOR A GRAPHICAL VERSION OF THIS INFORMATION, SEE OUR WEBPAGE AT: HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/WICHITA/HWO/
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1114 PM CDT THU AUG 25 2016
KSZ070-071-260500-
WOODSON KS-GREENWOOD KS-
1114 PM CDT THU AUG 25 2016
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A
* SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
WESTERN WOODSON COUNTY IN SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS...
NORTHEASTERN GREENWOOD COUNTY IN SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS...
* UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT
* AT 1111 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE
TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR TORONTO...OR 13 MILES WEST OF
YATES CENTER...MOVING NORTH AT 20 MPH.
HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF DIMES...AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE
POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
TORONTO...VIRGIL...BATESVILLE...
TORONTO LAKE AND CROSS TIMBERS STATE PARK.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
BE PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER IN THE EVENT THE STORMS INTENSIFY AND
BECOME SEVERE...OR A WARNING IS ISSUES BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
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 3775 9588 3778 9610 3810 9613 3809 9596
3804 9596 3804 9569
TIME...MOT...LOC 0414Z 190DEG 17KT 3784 9598
RITZMANSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1140 PM CDT THU AUG 25 2016
KSZ093-094-098-260530-
CHAUTAUQUA KS-ELK KS-COWLEY KS-
1140 PM CDT THU AUG 25 2016
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A
* SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
NORTHWESTERN CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY IN SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS...
SOUTHWESTERN ELK COUNTY IN SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS...
NORTHEASTERN COWLEY COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS...
* UNTIL 1230 AM CDT
* AT 1138 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS
TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL 8 MILES
EAST OF BURDEN...OR 15 MILES NORTH OF CEDAR VALE...MOVING EAST AT
20 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 55 MPH AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE
WITH THIS STORM.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
GRENOLA...ATLANTA AND CAMBRIDGE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
BE PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER IN THE EVENT THE STORMS INTENSIFY AND
BECOME SEVERE...OR A WARNING IS ISSUES BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
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 3743 9677 3748 9667 3748 9653 3754 9652
3757 9647 3727 9632 3723 9672
TIME...MOT...LOC 0439Z 249DEG 19KT 3732 9661
RITZMANSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 1149 PM CDT THU AUG 25 2016 KSZ069-070-260515- GREENWOOD KS-BUTLER KS- 1149 PM CDT THU AUG 25 2016 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A * SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR... WEST CENTRAL GREENWOOD COUNTY IN SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS... EASTERN BUTLER COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS... * UNTIL 1215 AM CDT * AT 1146 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF LEON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH AND TORRENTIAL RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... LEON...ROSALIA...BEAUMONT...EL DORADO LAKE... EL DORADO STATE PARK AND EL DORADO AIRPORT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. 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 3752 9668 3757 9686 3795 9680 3782 9631 TIME...MOT...LOC 0448Z 204DEG 19KT 3762 9671 RITZMAN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1208 AM CDT FRI AUG 26 2016
KSZ094-098-260600-
CHAUTAUQUA KS-ELK KS-
1208 AM CDT FRI AUG 26 2016
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A
* SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
NORTHWESTERN CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY IN SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS...
ELK COUNTY IN SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS...
* UNTIL 100 AM CDT
* AT 1205 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS
TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL NEAR
GRENOLA...OR 9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF HOWARD...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 TO 50 MPH AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE
POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
HOWARD...MOLINE...GRENOLA AND ELK FALLS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
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 3739 9653 3749 9653 3761 9631 3761 9619
3726 9605 3726 9647
TIME...MOT...LOC 0508Z 247DEG 25KT 3738 9638
RITZMANPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1224 AM CDT FRI AUG 26 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1215 AM HAIL MORAN 37.92N 95.17W
08/26/2016 E0.88 INCH ALLEN KS PUBLIC
RELAYED THROUGH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
&&
ADKSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 1228 AM CDT FRI AUG 26 2016 KSZ098-260600- CHAUTAUQUA KS- 1228 AM CDT FRI AUG 26 2016 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A * SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR... CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY IN SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS... * UNTIL 100 AM CDT * AT 1225 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF SEDAN...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... SEDAN...CEDAR VALE...PERU...CHAUTAUQUA...ELGIN...NIOTAZE AND HALE. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. 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 9652 3730 9597 3700 9597 3700 9653 TIME...MOT...LOC 0528Z 267DEG 21KT 3719 9632 RITZMAN
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Minor street flooding occurred in Moran. The report was relayed through Allen County Emergency Management. Various flood-prone areas, such as low-water crossings, were flooded across Allen County.
Significant flooding occurred at a low-water crossing near Burden.
Major flooding was reported near Parsons Lake, where barricades were placed at 30th and Lyon Roads as well as 40th and Kiowa.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, August 2016
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: 655474, 655476, 655477.