Multiple rounds of thunderstorms led to widespread heavy rainfall of two to four inches with isolated amounts up to five inches. Numerous low water crossings, creeks, and streams were flooded.
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 rounds of thunderstorms led to widespread heavy rainfall of two to four inches with isolated amounts up to five inches. Numerous low water crossings, creeks, and streams were flooded. Some main stem rivers reached minor to moderate flood stage.
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 Apr 21, 6:21 AM CST, 9 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Springfield MO
721 AM CDT Fri Apr 21 2017
.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 305 AM CDT Fri Apr 21 2017
As a stationary frontal boundary sits just south of our region
through late tonight and into early Saturday, waves of rainfall
will continue to develop across the central plains and push
through our area. With each round of rainfall, flooding concerns
will gradually increase, especially south of the HWY 54 corridor.
Gradual clearing can be expected by late weekend and into early
next week. After a few days of pleasant weather early to midweek,
more unsettled weather is anticipated.
&&
.SHORT TERM...(Today through Saturday)
Issued at 305 AM CDT Fri Apr 21 2017
Showers and a few embedded thunderstorms have developed across
southeast Kansas and the Missouri Ozarks early this morning. This
activity is forecast to continue to develop/expand eastward
through the morning. A series of upper level disturbances should
keep precipitation going through much of the day. A less subtle
wave will then eject from the Rockies and into the southern plains
this afternoon. There may be a very slight break in the rainfall
late morning/early afternoon (respectively), however, with the
evolution of the waves, think that any break will be short-lived
before additional showers and storms develop/expand into the
region from the west.
From a severe weather standpoint, there will be just enough
elevated instability and wind shear or a hail/gusty wind threat,
however, the main story with this storm system will likely be the
potential for flooding (see below).
Eventually, a surface low with its parent mid level wave will
shift eastward during the morning Saturday. This should push the
heavier rain off to the east. Although much of the heavier
rainfall moves east, we will still be left with some light rain
showers/drizzle. It will also be noticeably cooler with some
locations not even getting above 50 degrees.
In terms of storm totals, most short term and global guidance have
increased amounts across the I44 corridor. Went ahead and added
Bourbon and Vernon Counties to the Flood Watch due to receiving
around an inch of rain yesterday with an additional 1-2 expected
up that way before all said and done. Around the I44 corridor and
especially south, think rainfall amounts of 2-4" with locally
higher amounts (say 5") is still reasonable. With soils becoming
quickly saturated (if not already) flooding concerns will grow
with each wave of heavier rainfall through today and especially
into the evening/overnight tonight.
.LONG TERM...(Saturday night through Thursday)
Issued at 305 AM CDT Fri Apr 21 2017
Precipitation and eventually clouds should slowly start to
decrease as the pesky late week system continues to exit stage
right by Sunday. Upper level ridging is then expected to build over
our area next week. This will allow temperatures to warm back
into the normal range after a below average weekend.
The weather once again turns unsettled mid to late week next week
as another series of mid level waves move from the southern
plains and into our region. At this time, timing and exact impact
of each wave are still difficult to resolve, however, this looks
to be a decent opportunity of more showers and thunderstorms
through perhaps early next weekend.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Saturday morning)
Issued at 653 AM CDT Fri Apr 21 2017
An area of rain and embedded thunderstorms will continue across
southern Missouri early this morning. Additional rounds of showers
and thunderstorms will then impact the area from later this
morning into tonight. MVFR and local IFR conditions can be
expected around storms. IFR will become more prevalent from this
afternoon into tonight.
Surface winds will increase and become gusty out of the east from
this afternoon into tonight.
&&
.SGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MO...Flood Watch through Saturday morning for MOZ066-077>082-088>098-
101>106.
KS...Flood Watch through Saturday morning for KSZ073-097-101.
&&
SYNOPSIS...Frye
SHORT TERM...Frye
LONG TERM...Frye
AVIATION...SchaumannHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Springfield MO 625 AM CDT Fri Apr 21 2017 KSZ073-097-101-MOZ055>058-066>071-077>083-088>098-101>106-221130- 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- 625 AM CDT Fri Apr 21 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of the Missouri Ozarks and extreme southeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Weather hazards expected... Limited Hail risk. Limited Thunderstorm wind damage risk. Elevated Flooding risk. Elevated Lightning risk. DISCUSSION... Scattered showers and Thunderstorms will continue to develop and move eastward through today and into the night. Rainfall may be heavy at times. Around two to four inches of rainfall can be expected through Saturday, which may lead to flooding of creeks, streams, and poor drainage areas. In addition to the flooding risk, a strong storm or two may be possible along the Missouri and Arkansas border this afternoon. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Wednesday. Residual flooding will be possible during much of the day Saturday from heavy rainfall on Friday. Our next storm system will set up across the central plains by mid week next week. Additional showers and thunderstorms will be possible during this timeframe. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed through tonight. && More detailed information can be accessed at: http://www.weather.gov/sgf/sitrep This product in graphical format...along with other weather... hydrological and climate information...at http://www.weather.gov/sgf Frye
The Springfield radar (KSGF), 107 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:30 UTC.
31 flood, 10 flash flood, 2 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
There was water over a low water crossing south of Racine on State Highway CC.
West Spring Street between Valley Streat and South Neosho Blvd in Neosho was closed due to flood water.
State Highway C was closed in both directions at Flat Creek due to flooding.
Water was over Kentucky Road and Teal Drive. The road was impassable.
A low water bridge at Farm Road 2140 and State Highway Y had one foot of water over the roadway. The intersection was closed.
The Elkhorn Branch on State Highway CC had water flowing over the road. This report was from social media.
Farm Road 1135 was impassable at the low water bridge near the Roaring River Hatchery.
State Highway U was closed due to flooding along Flat Creek.
State Highway U was closed due to flooding along Mikes Creek.
Beaver Creek was out of the banks on Old Cheese Plant Road.
State Highway K was closed due to flooding.
State Highway Y was closed due to flooding at Cowskin Creek.
State Highway FF was closed due to flooding at Hunter Creek.
State Highway U was closed due to flooding at Bryant Creek.
The Lawrence County Road and Bridge District in Pierce City reported that secondary roads were flooded across the county. One vehicle was submerged in flooding on County Road 2210 about two miles northwest of Pierce City.
State Highway Z was closed due to flooding at the Finley Creek.
State Highway 142 was closed due to flooding.
A former NWS employee reported flooding along Route E and Kings Hollow Road at several low water crossings.
MODOT reported Route AB was closed due to flooding at Wolf Creek.
Roark Valley Road was closed between Truman and Forsyth Road in Branson. Jupiter and Caudill Road were closed because of flooded low water crossings.
Farm Road 1070 north of Rauc-a-bye Lane was flooded and impassable at several locations.
Langley Road just east of Highway 43 was closed due to a flooded low water crossing.
Route J was closed due to flood water.
Farm Road 1215 north of Highway 248 was impassable due to flood water.
Raily Creek Road was closed due to flood water.
Coon Creek Road was impassable and closed due to flood water.
Route M was closed due to flooding.
A swift water rescue was conducted near Ottawa Road and North Marshfield Road.
A storm total rainfall of 4.00 inches was measured.
Highway 125 was closed due to flooding.
Bartlett Drive at Pine Creek was impassable due to flood water.
A storm total rainfall of 4.33 inches was measured in Shell Knob.
Route H was closed due to flooding.
Route NN was closed at Rocky Creek due to flooding.
The outer road on I-49 was closed due to flooding.
Route EE was closed about one mile east of Route AD due to flooding along the North Fork River.
Route 126 was closed about a quarter of a mile west of I-49 due to flooding.
Route Z was closed at Elk Creek due to flooding.
Route E was closed about one mile north of Route 38 due to flooding along the Gasconade River.
State Higway 181 was closed near Bryant Creek due to flooding.
There was flash flooding along the Upper Jacks Fork River across much of southeast Texas County and western Shannon County.
A vehicle drove into a flooded Muddy Creek and became submerged. All occupants were able to get out safely. This incident occurred near the intersection of Muddy Creek and NE 30th Lane.
A car was submerged in flood water from the SAC River and Coates Branch Creek on Highway 215. All occupants were able to escape safely.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Missouri in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Missouri, April 2017
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: 689802, 689803, 691033, 689792, 689793, 689794, 689795, 689796, 689797, 689798, 691034, 691035, 691036, 691037, 689799, 691038, 691039, 691040, 691041, 691042, 691043, 691044, 691047, 691046, 691045, 691048, 691050, 689800, 691061, 691053, 691049, 691060, 691051, 691052, 691059, 691056, 691057, 691054, 691055, 691058, and more.