August 19-20 a rapidly deepening low pressure system tracked from south central Kansas to southwest Iowa. Unseasonably strong wind shear led to the development of severe storms with heavy rainfall across southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri during the late afternoon and evening hours of the 19th .
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.
August 19-20 a rapidly deepening low pressure system tracked from south central Kansas to southwest Iowa. Unseasonably strong wind shear led to the development of severe storms with heavy rainfall across southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri during the late afternoon and evening hours of the 19th . Several EF-0 and two EF-1 tornadoes developed with these storms over Barton, Vernon, Barry and Webster Counties. Rainfall accumulations averaged between one half inch and one inch, with isolated amounts up to three inches over Wright and Barton Counties.
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 Aug 19, 1:44 AM CST, 3 hours 21 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Springfield MO 244 AM CDT Sun Aug 19 2018 .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) Issued at 207 AM CDT Sun Aug 19 2018 High pressure currently over the region will bring a pleasant morning the the Ozarks. However, An upper level storm system is moving across the plains and will begin to push the high pressure east and bring showers and storms to the region by late this morning for areas west of I-49 and the remainder of the Ozarks this afternoon into this evening. As the upper trough approaches the area it will begin to cutoff and slow a bit. The low will move across the Missouri/Iowa border through tonight. A weak front will lift north through the area today and provide lift and some instability as it does. The shear will be limited as the strongest winds are located in the 250mb jet of only 50-70kts. Lower level winds in the 850-700mb level will be in around 30-40kts. This would be sufficient for strong to severe storm development, especially where instability coincides with up to 1000-1200j/kg of MUCAPE. The combination of instability and shear this afternoon and evening will likely be enough for isolated strong to severe storms to develop with damaging winds and hail up to quarters in size to occur. The slow movement of the system will allow showers and thunderstorms to continue across the area overnight into monday morning as well. .LONG TERM...(Monday through Saturday) Issued at 207 AM CDT Sun Aug 19 2018 Isolated showers and storms will be on going Monday morning as the upper low continues its slow progression to the east. These will increase in coverage through the day was the 500mb trough moves across the region. There will be the potential for another bout of strong to severe storms Monday but this is very contingent on the available instability. The rain will come to an end Monday and be replaced with dry, Canadian high pressure as we head into the middle of the week. This will combine with upper level northwesterly flow to bring slightly cooler temperatures to the region with high only in the lower to middle 80s. Models hint at some light rain potential for Thursday as a weak wave move through the upper level flow over the region. This will help to flatten the upper level pattern as well with another wave coming Friday, with another chance of rain. The two waves will help shift the pattern to slightly southwesterly which may bring a slightly wet pattern back the region as we head into the weekend. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Sunday night) Issued at 1234 AM CDT Sun Aug 19 2018 Clear skies and quiet weather will occur through sunrise this morning with VFR flight conditions. A storm system will approach the region through the morning with showers and storms impacting the regions terminals by late morning and continuing into the late evening. Flight conditions in storms will fall to MVFR with low end VFR ceilings expected through the day. && .SGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MO...NONE. KS...NONE. && SHORT TERM...Hatch LONG TERM...Hatch AVIATION...Hatch
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Springfield MO 346 AM CDT Sun Aug 19 2018 KSZ073-097-101-MOZ055>058-066>071-077>083-088>098-101>106-200845- 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- 346 AM CDT Sun Aug 19 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of the Missouri Ozarks and extreme southeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Weather hazards expected... Limited tornado risk. Limited hail risk. Limited thunderstorm wind damage risk. Significant lightning risk. DISCUSSION... Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected to track across the area this afternoon and evening. Locally heavy rain and damaging winds and hail up to quarters in size are the primary hazards expected. An isolated tornado will also be possible. Locations West of a line from Fort Scott, Springfield and Theodosia will see the best chances for severe weather. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Strong to severe thunderstorms will again be possible Monday mainly across the eastern Ozarks. .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 Hatch
The Springfield radar (KSGF), 76 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:03 UTC.
9 tornado, 8 thunderstorm wind, 6 heavy rain, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A National Weather Service survey determined that an EF-0 tornado struck a barn resulting in damage to the roof.
A National Weather Service Storm Survey determined that an EF-0 tornado caused damage to tree limbs near Highway NN and Lakehill Road just south of Diggins. The tornado then crossed Highway 60 near Diggins with debris blocking highway and one uprooted tree.
A trained spotter reported a 58 mph wind gust.
A National Weather Service survey determined that a brief EF-0 tornado touchdown that blew over a center-pivot irrigation system in a field off of West highway V in Verdella.
A trained spotter reported 60 mph winds.
A National Weather Service storm survey determined an EF-0 tornado touched down over rural NE Newton County, destroying an outbuilding and a grain bin, along with damaging numerous trees. The time was estimated from radar.
A brief EF-0 tornado touched down near the intersection of NE 90th Road and NE 20th Lane. Maximum winds were estimated at 61mph. The tornado width was 25 yards with a path length of 0.10 miles. There were large branches broken.
A National Weather Service survey determined that EF-1 tornado starting 1.5 SE of Sheldon, Mo. Damage occurred to a few farm outbuildings. The tornado continued on the ground for two minutes to the northeast uprooting trees along the tornado path before lifting one mile east of Sheldon, Mo. Maximum winds were estimated at 95 mph.
A National Weather Service storm survey determined that a brief EF-0 tornado touched down near North MO Highway A. The tornado was short-lived lasting nearly 2 minutes before ending near the intersection of North MO Highway A and NE 90th Road. Max winds estimated at 74 mph, width of 25 yards, and a path length of 0.25 miles.
A National Weather Service storm survey determined that an EF1 tornado touched down near Highway Z and 39 in Barry County and continued north northeast for approximately 3.4 miles before crossing into Lawrence County ending west of Marionville. Maximum wind speeds were estimated at 90mph, a width 100 yards and total distance 9.4 miles. Numerous outbuildings were damaged along the path, trees were uprooted, some power lines were downed, and two mobile homes had portions of their roofs removed. The tornado initially touched down at 6:36 pm in Barry County and ended lifted at 7:01 pm in Lawrence County.
A National Weather Service storm survey determined that an EF1 tornado touched down near Highway Z and 39 in Barry County and continued north northeast for approximately 3.4 miles before crossing into Lawrence County ending west of Marionville. Maximum wind speeds were estimated at 90mph, a width 100 yards and total distance 9.4 miles. Numerous outbuildings damaged along the path, trees were uprooted, some power lines were downed, and two mobile homes had portions of their roofs removed. The tornado initially touched down at 6:36 pm in Barry County and ended lifted at 7:01 pm in Lawrence County.
Multiple large tree limbs were reported down with minor damage to a few outbuildings.
A trained spotter reported downed power lines at the intersection of south Illinois Avenue and Melody Lane southwest of Republic. Several large tree branches and a small tree were also reported down in that same area.
A trained spotter reported an estimated 60mph wind gust and a large tree down blocking a roadway.
A large tree limb was reported down on a car.
A report of damage to a barn roof was reported at south 210th Road and Highway YY.
A citizen reported significant damage to an outbuilding and siding dislodged from a house.
A 24 hour rainfall total of 1.75 inches was reported by the Joplin ASOS.
A 24 hour rainfall total of 2.26 inches was reported.
A 24 hour rainfall total of 2.14 inches was reported.
A 24 hour rainfall total of 2.32 inches was reported.
A 24 hour rainfall total of 2.66 inches was reported.
A 24 hour rainfall total of 2.23 inches was reported.
Low water crossings in and around the city of West Plains were flooded and roads were barricaded.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Missouri in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Missouri, 2018Warnings in Missouri, 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: 780774, 780788, 780744, 780776, 780746, 780781, 780782, 780785, 781918, 781909, 781912, 780739, 780740, 780747, 780741, 780742, 780743, 780762, 780763, 780764, 780765, 780766, 780767, 780738.