Very heavy rains occurred across portions of southeast Kansas producing prolific flash flooding. Unfortunately, two people lost their lives while trying to drive across a water covered road.
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.
Very heavy rains occurred across portions of southeast Kansas producing prolific flash flooding. Unfortunately, two people lost their lives while trying to drive across a water covered road. Rainfall amounts up 8.5 inches were noted.
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 14, 5:29 AM CST, 5 hours 19 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 629 AM CDT Tue Aug 14 2018 .SHORT TERM...(Today through Thursday night) Issued at 256 AM CDT Tue Aug 14 2018 An active and challenging short term forecast will continue for the first few periods. The 700mb low is currently over parts of West- Central Kansas this morning and is slowly moving to the east. Moisture transport is not as strong as yesterday over most of the state. However, PW values remain very high for this time of year. Most of the model soundings show nearly saturated columns through much of the afternoon and into the evening as the 700mb low moves to the east. Heavy rain chances look to be concentrated in the late afternoon and overnight time periods with the NAM/ARW/NMM/UKMET showing strong moisture transport and decent convergence over the Southeast Kansas tonight and early tomorrow. GFS/GEFS Plumes/SERF are much weaker. Despite the weaker indications for the later models, feel tonight, Southeast Kansas will have a higher likelyhood of heavier rain than the rest of the CWA. Adjusted QPF to compensate. Heavy rain chances for the remainder of the CWA will continue to be spotty. While the 700mb low will slowly move off to the east as the upper level trough comes into phase with the 700mb low, there just does not seem to be enough focus or forcing to allow widespread heavy rain across the western half of the CWA. Unfortunately, the abundant moisture evidenced by the very high PW values across the region means heavy rain rain and possible flooding of lowland areas can't be ruled out today or tonight. Any showers that get enough instability and vertical motion will produce very heavy rain and could produce an inch of rain in a very short period of time. This heavy rain threat will slowly wane during the overnight tonight. Temperatures for today will again be well below normal as the clouds will remain firmly in place. Wednesday the upper level trough will continue to move off to the east and will allow for some slow clearing in the CWA. Temperatures will recover some and will likely approach normal in many areas. However, areas of Eastern and Southeast Kansas are likely to remain cooler and have showers and a few thunderstorms in the region during much of the day. Clearing in Southeast Kansas is not expected to be complete until the late afternoon or into the evening hours Wednesday. Thursday some weak upper level ridging is expected to build into the region which will allow for the sun to return and temperatures to rise to near normal for this time of year. This is not expected to last long as most models do indicate another frontal system is expected to encroach on the region late Thursday night and into Friday. Metzger .LONG TERM...(Friday through Monday) Issued at 256 AM CDT Tue Aug 14 2018 The main challenge in the extended range will be the timing and intensity of the next front expected to arrive early Friday morning. GFS/GEFS Plumes/ECMWF indicate this system will not have the volume of moisture the current system has had. However, there does appear to be more shear available this time around which will keep the precipitation chances up. This front is progged to stall over portions of Western Kansas. The proximity of this front over the CWA will bring temperatures back down below normal for much of the weekend and could bring a few rounds of showers and thunderstorms as well. Confidence on timing and intensity remains low at this time. Metzger && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Wednesday morning) Issued at 630 AM CDT Tue Aug 14 2018 Challenging aviation forecast today. While IFR/MVFR conditions are expected to prevail through midday, a wide variance from LIFR to brief periods of VFR may also occur. Scattered to numerous showers and isolated storms will continue to pinwheel around low pressure as it moves across Kansas. Several hours of VFR may develop later this afternoon and early evening, though trending down again to MVFR later tonight. Winds will become north to northwest behind the departing low tonight with chances for showers diminishing as well. KED && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Wichita-KICT 82 67 86 68 / 70 50 10 0 Hutchinson 81 66 85 66 / 70 40 10 0 Newton 81 66 85 66 / 70 50 10 0 ElDorado 82 67 85 66 / 70 60 20 0 Winfield-KWLD 82 68 86 68 / 70 70 10 0 Russell 78 64 85 65 / 80 20 10 10 Great Bend 79 64 85 66 / 70 20 10 10 Salina 81 66 87 66 / 70 40 10 0 McPherson 81 66 85 65 / 70 40 10 0 Coffeyville 83 69 86 68 / 70 80 40 10 Chanute 83 68 85 67 / 70 70 30 10 Iola 83 68 85 67 / 70 70 30 10 Parsons-KPPF 83 69 85 68 / 70 80 40 10 && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None. && SHORT TERM...ELM LONG TERM...ELM AVIATION...KED
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wichita KS 429 AM CDT Tue Aug 14 2018 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-150930- 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- 429 AM CDT Tue Aug 14 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Central Kansas, South Central Kansas and Southeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Occasional showers and thunderstorms with heavy rain will continue across the region today and into the evening hours. Heavy rain may result in ponding of water and localized flooding concerns...especially in low-lying areas. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday Showers and thunderstorms will be possible Wednesday across the eastern half of the region. The main hazard will be heavy rainfall with a risk for minor lowland flooding. A locally strong storm will also be possible. Periodic chances for storms will return to the entire area from late Thursday through Sunday. However the risk for heavy rainfall and severe weather appears low at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated today or tonight. && For a graphical version of this information, see our webpage at: http://weather.gov/wichita/hwo/
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
809 AM CDT TUE AUG 14 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0551 PM HEAVY RAIN LYONS 38.35N 98.20W
08/13/2018 E2.20 INCH RICE KS PUBLIC
DELAYED REPORT FROM AUG 13. TOTAL RAINFALL
SINCE 7 AM, AUG 13. REPORT VIA TWITTER.
&&
MARTINSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
1052 AM CDT TUE AUG 14 2018
KSZ069-093-141615-
Butler KS-Cowley KS-
1052 AM CDT TUE AUG 14 2018
The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a
* Significant Weather Advisory for...
Butler County in south central Kansas...
Cowley County in south central Kansas...
* Until 1115 AM CDT.
* At 1046 AM CDT...National Weather Service Doppler radar was
tracking showers and thunderstorms with locally very heavy
rainfall along a line extending from El Dorado, to near Rose Hill,
to near Winfield, to 6 miles northeast of Grainola...and moving
northeast at 15 to 25 mph.
Pockets of very heavy rainfall rates are likely across portions of
Butler and Cowley counties, which will produce poor visibility and
ponding of water on roads. The rainfall may also lead to localized
minor flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
These storms are not expected to become severe.
&&
LAT...LON 3723 9699 3740 9715 3779 9715 3809 9693
3808 9653 3700 9653 3700 9669
TIME...MOT...LOC 1548Z 226DEG 23KT 3781 9685 3756 9707 3730 9692 3702
9659
KLEINSASSERSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
1124 AM CDT TUE AUG 14 2018
KSZ053-069-070-093-094-098-141700-
Butler KS-Cowley KS-Greenwood KS-Chautauqua KS-Chase KS-Elk KS-
1124 AM CDT TUE AUG 14 2018
The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a
* Significant Weather Advisory for...
Butler County in south central Kansas...
Northeastern Cowley County in south central Kansas...
Greenwood County in southeastern Kansas...
Chautauqua County in southeastern Kansas...
Southern Chase County in east central Kansas...
Elk County in southeastern Kansas...
* Until noon CDT.
* At 1114 AM CDT...National Weather Service Doppler radar was
tracking showers and thunderstorms with locally very heavy
rainfall rates across the Flint Hills, moving northeast at 15 to
25 mph.
Within the heaviest showers and storms, poor visibility and ponding
of water on roads is likely. Slow down to avoid hydroplaning. The
rainfall may also lead to localized minor flooding. Do not drive
your vehicle through flooded roadways.
* Locations impacted include...
El Dorado, Augusta, Eureka, Douglass, Towanda, Sedan, Leon,
Madison, Howard, Cedar Vale, Moline, Longton, Hamilton, Severy,
Grenola, Atlanta, Fall River, Latham, Peru and Chautauqua.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
The storms are not expected to become severe.
&&
LAT...LON 3736 9670 3748 9706 3784 9705 3801 9691
3809 9684 3833 9655 3852 9636 3817 9636
3817 9596 3700 9597 3700 9653
TIME...MOT...LOC 1617Z 226DEG 49KT 3778 9662
KLEINSASSERThe Wichita radar (KICT), 91 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:50 UTC.
7 heavy rain, 4 flash flood, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
This was a 24 hour total beginning at 12pm August 13th. The rain led to some nuisance flooding of ditches and low lying farmland. Some ponding of water on the roads were also noted.
Trees were blown down at county road 5250 and Highway 160. A funnel cloud was also observed.
This information was obtained from social media. The tornado was very small and did not last very long.
Widespread flooding of rural roads were being reported across the northern half of the county.
Torrential rains within a bowl shaped landscape produced catastrophic flooding of Racket Creek. Rainfall amounts up to 8.5 inches fell in an isolated area in which the creek ran between a pair of elevated regions causing significant and rapid rises of the creek. Water was estimated to be approximately 4 feet above road level and rushing rapidly. It was reported that the gentlemen were driving a pickup and may have encountered an obstacle in the rushing waters causing them to stop. The rushing waters overcame the vehicle and swept it off of the road and into the creek channel. It was estimated that the depth of the creek base to the roadway was about 15 to 20 feet.
Widespread flooding was being reported across the whole county. Water rescues were noted in the northwest part of Independence along whiskey creek. Multiple homes were being reported as flooded and law enforcement was going door to door to warn the residents.
Flash flooding was in progress near the junction of Highway 166 and Highway 59. It was also reported on Highway 160 east of Elk road. Both lanes were flooded with at least 6 inches of of water for a 30 yard stretch.
Updated rainfall report at the Elk City Lake gauge.
Twenty four hour rainfall report.
This was the 24 hour rainfall total.
This was a 24 hour rainfall amount.
This was a 24 hour rainfall amount.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood, Montgomery | 2018-08-14 | 72 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
| Flash Flood, Montgomery | 2018-08-14 | 39 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Kansas, 2018Warnings in Kansas, August 2018
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: 774540, 774541, 774543, 774544, 774545, 774547, 774556, 774557, 774558, 774559, 774560, 774561, 774562.