Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Missouri, August 29 to 30, 2019

Name: Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Missouri, August 29 to 30, 2019
Start: 2019-08-29T04:00
End: 2019-08-30T11:00
Location: Missouri

August 29 to 30, 2019 · NWS SGF · 10 events in 3 counties and zones

A complex of storms over northern Missouri and southern Iowa on the morning of the 29th pushed an outflow boundary southward into central Missouri during the evening hours. Another storm complex developed over central Kansas during the evening of the 29th and merged with the remnants of the Missouri complex during the overnight hours and produced heavy rainfall and sporadic severe storms over…

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

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 10

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 SGF 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 Springfield, MO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 29, 1:38 AM CST, 2 hours 22 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 29, 1:38 AM CST, 2 hours 22 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Springfield MO
238 AM CDT Thu Aug 29 2019

.SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight)
Issued at 220 AM CDT Thu Aug 29 2019

Surface high pressure will make its way slowly to the east of the
region through the day today thanks to a cold front moving south
across the northern plains. As the surface high moves east,
moisture return will occur as winds turn out of the south.

The southerly winds will also allow temperatures this afternoon to
climb into the middle 80s. scattered cloud covering will spread
across the region in response to the moisture advection and the
approaching front.

As the front move into northern Missouri showers and storms will
develop along it. This activity will then spread south into the
Ozarks overnight tonight. The latest models trends have backed off
on potential severe weather with the front for areas of southern
Missouri including the Ozarks. There may still be a few strong
storms that occur but as of now, severe weather is not expected.

.LONG TERM...(Friday through Wednesday)
Issued at 220 AM CDT Thu Aug 29 2019

A low level jet will nose into western Missouri Friday morning and
help to keep thunderstorms possible across the area through the
day as the cold front stall and becomes nearly stationary. The low
level jet weakens quickly by mid day however with only some
isolated storms expected during the day.

The stalled front will then linger across the Ozarks through the
holiday weekend brining rain and storm chances to the area each
day through Sunday night. Again, through the weekend, there is
very limited support for any severe storms despited a few weak
short waves moving through the upper level flow.

Labor Day itself looks like it may be dry as surface high pressure
slides through the area and a weak upper ridge moves over the
area during the day Monday.

Another cold front is forecast to move across the plains Tuesday
but washes out before making it as far south as the Ozarks.
Overall, much of next week looks dry with seasonable temperatures.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Thursday night)
Issued at 1150 PM CDT Wed Aug 28 2019

Surface high pressure will slide off to the east allowing
southerly winds to occur across the area through out the TAF
period. Winds will increase some during the day and become gusty
but not overly strong.

&&

.SGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MO...NONE.
KS...NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM...Hatch
LONG TERM...Hatch
AVIATION...Wise

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 28, 12:17 PM CST, 15 hours 43 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Springfield MO
117 PM CDT Wed Aug 28 2019

KSZ073-097-101-MOZ055>058-066>071-077>083-088>098-101>106-291830-
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-
117 PM CDT Wed Aug 28 2019

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of the Missouri
Ozarks and extreme southeast Kansas.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight.

  No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

Showers and thunderstorms will move into southeast Kansas and
western Missouri very late Thursday night into early Friday
morning. A few strong to severe storms will be possible along and
north of the Highway 54 corridor.

Additional shower and thunderstorm chances will occur off and on
Friday night through the weekend.

.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

Burchfield

The radar

The Pleasant Hill radar (KEAX), 72 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 10:03 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 heavy rain, 4 flash flood, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, St. Clair

When: August 29, 4:00 AM CST to August 30, 4:00 AM CST
Where: St. Clair County, 0.69 mi S of Appleton City
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 38.190, -94.030

Rainfall of 2.80 inches was measured over the past 24 hours.

Heavy Rain, Benton

When: August 29, 6:00 AM CST to August 30, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Benton County, 0.69 mi S of Lincoln
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 38.390, -93.330

Rainfall of 6.30 inches was measured over the past 24 hours.

Heavy Rain, Benton

When: August 29, 6:00 AM CST to August 30, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Benton County, 2.34 mi SSW of Mora
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 38.490, -93.240

Rainfall of 3.79 inches was measured over the past 24 hours.

Heavy Rain, Benton

When: August 29, 7:00 AM CST to August 30, 7:00 AM CST
Where: Benton County, 0.69 mi S of Mt Hulda
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 38.360, -93.230

Rainfall of 3.65 inches was measured over the past 24 hours.

Thunderstorm Wind, Newton

When: August 30, 3:11 AM CST
Where: Newton County, 3.89 mi S of Seneca to 3.8 mi S of Seneca
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 36.795, -94.613

A tree was reported down at Highway 43 and Redbud Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Newton

When: August 30, 3:30 AM CST
Where: Newton County, 1.3 mi ENE of Seneca to 1.55 mi ENE of Seneca
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 36.860, -94.580

A tree was reported down at Highway K and Bluebird Drive.

Flash Flood, Benton

When: August 30, 4:30 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where: Benton County, 0.33 mi N of Warsaw to 0.37 mi N of Warsaw
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 38.255, -93.379

Water was reported over the roadway at the intersection of Hillcrest Lane and Polk Street.

Flash Flood, Benton

When: August 30, 4:30 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where: Benton County, 5.3 mi NNE of Warsaw to 5.27 mi NNE of Warsaw
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 38.320, -93.340

A foot of water was reported over the roadway on Highway 65 near Highway BB.

Flash Flood, Benton

When: August 30, 4:30 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where: Benton County, 0.69 mi S of Warsaw to 0.84 mi SSE of Warsaw
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 38.240, -93.380

A manhole cover was popped open due to flash flooding near Main Street and White Road in Warsaw.

Flash Flood, Benton

When: August 30, 4:51 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where: Benton County, 2.34 mi NNE of Lincoln to 1.87 mi NNE of Lincoln
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 38.430, -93.310

Water was reported over both northbound and southbound on Highway 65 near Highway HH.

What these are

Heavy Rain: Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
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.
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 2019 Every state in 2019 This day in weather history Warnings in Missouri, August 2019

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: 849990, 849991, 849992, 849994, 849984, 849985, 849979, 849980, 849989, 849982.