An early morning complex of storms moved across south central Kansas producing sporadic severe weather on July 10th, 2020. The main issue was very heavy rain.
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.
An early morning complex of storms moved across south central Kansas producing sporadic severe weather on July 10th, 2020. The main issue was very heavy rain. Most locations were between 2 and 3 inches. However, one report of 4.5 inches was noted in Kingman county.
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 Jul 10, 1:30 AM CST, 3 hours 38 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 230 AM CDT Fri Jul 10 2020 .SHORT TERM...(Today through Sunday night) Issued at 230 AM CDT Fri Jul 10 2020 Potential for strong/severe convection early this morning within reservoir of strong elevated instability and 40 to 45 kts of cloud bearing shear across central Kansas. Accas and weak radar returns just prior to 07z have gone upscale quickly just south of the I-70 corridor by 0725z. Modest elevated moisture transport along the mid-level baroclinic zone will continue through the morning hours and expect convection to develop from central into south central Kansas across the Flint Hills. It is possible convection should persist into midday, and if so, this could limit diurnal warming this afternoon. An upper trof will move eastward across the northern Plains tonight and then southeastward across the Upper Midwest on Saturday. The NAM/GFS develop convection and a MCS across SD/eastern NE which dives more southward across far eastern Kansas/western Missouri early Saturday morning. If so, this would augment the southward movement and quicker passage of the effective surface front. This would not only result in slightly cooler (less hot) temperatures Saturday afternoon across much of the area, but may also push the better late day storm chances along or south of the Oklahoma border. Expect mainly dry and seasonably very warm temperatures on Sunday. Darmofal .LONG TERM...(Monday through Thursday) Issued at 230 AM CDT Fri Jul 10 2020 While the the heat is expected to build more in earnest finally within and just north of the upper ridge across the area by the middle of next week, a weak but discernible surface front looks to waver across the central Plains. This could make the difference on when and where some areas exceed the century mark on the thermometer. Otherwise, chances for organized convection look more muted much of next week. KED && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Friday night) Issued at 1116 PM CDT Thu Jul 9 2020 Scattered elevated storms are expected to develop late tonight over central/south central Kansas. This activity will linger through the morning hours on Friday and spread into southeast Kansas. Some of the storms could reach severe levels with large hail and damaging winds. Easterly winds will gradually switch to the southeast during the day on Friday. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Wichita-KICT 92 75 94 69 / 50 10 20 10 Hutchinson 91 73 93 66 / 40 10 10 10 Newton 90 73 92 66 / 40 20 10 10 ElDorado 90 72 92 66 / 40 20 20 10 Winfield-KWLD 91 75 95 69 / 30 10 20 20 Russell 90 70 91 64 / 20 10 10 10 Great Bend 91 71 92 65 / 20 10 10 10 Salina 91 72 92 66 / 20 10 10 10 McPherson 91 72 92 66 / 40 20 10 10 Coffeyville 90 73 93 70 / 30 40 40 20 Chanute 90 72 91 69 / 20 50 50 20 Iola 89 71 89 68 / 20 50 50 20 Parsons-KPPF 90 73 92 69 / 30 50 50 20 && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None. && SHORT TERM...KED LONG TERM...KED AVIATION...CDJ
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wichita KS 310 AM CDT Fri Jul 10 2020 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-110815- 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- 310 AM CDT Fri Jul 10 2020 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Central Kansas, South Central Kansas and Southeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Strong to severe storms are possible this morning from the Flint Hills westward across central and south central Kansas. The main threats will be nickel to half-dollar size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph. Locally heavy rainfall and minor lowland flooding will also be possible. Heat indices will climb to around 100 degrees this afternoon across south central Kansas. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Strong thunderstorms are possible early Saturday morning across southeast Kansas. The main threats will be wind gusts to 50 mph and small hail. There is a slight chance for thunderstorms Saturday afternoon across portions of south central and southeast Kansas. A strong to severe storm will be possible, capable of 55 to 65 mph winds and nickel to half-dollar size hail. Heat indices of 100 to 102 are possible Saturday afternoon across southern Kansas with heat indices possibly near 105 degrees by the middle of next week across much of the area. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated today or tonight. && For a graphical version of this information, see our webpage at: https://weather.gov/crh/ghwo?sid=ict
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
447 AM CDT Fri Jul 10 2020
KSZ047-048-050-101045-
Ellsworth KS-Rice KS-Barton KS-
447 AM CDT Fri Jul 10 2020
The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a
* Significant Weather Advisory for...
Southwestern Ellsworth County in central Kansas...
Northwestern Rice County in central Kansas...
Northeastern Barton County in central Kansas...
* Until 545 AM CDT.
* At 446 AM CDT...National Weather Service Doppler radar was tracking
a strong thunderstorm with locally heavy rainfall 6 miles northwest
of Holyrood, or 7 miles north of Claflin...moving southeast at 20
mph.
* Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm.
* Locations impacted include...
Ellsworth, Hoisington, Claflin, Kanopolis, Holyrood, Bushton,
Geneseo, Lorraine, Frederick, Ellsworth Airport, Cheyenne Bottoms
and Odin.
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.
&&
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 AM CDT for
central Kansas.
LAT...LON 3869 9871 3870 9849 3876 9848 3879 9816
3843 9816 3846 9885
TIME...MOT...LOC 0947Z 327DEG 17KT 3864 9852
METZGERSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
456 AM CDT Fri Jul 10 2020
KSZ067-082-101100-
Reno KS-Kingman KS-
456 AM CDT Fri Jul 10 2020
The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a
* Significant Weather Advisory for...
Southeastern Reno County in south central Kansas...
Northeastern Kingman County in south central Kansas...
* Until 600 AM CDT.
* At 453 AM CDT...National Weather Service Doppler radar was tracking
a strong thunderstorm with locally heavy rainfall near Pretty
Prairie...moving east at 15 mph.
* Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm.
* Locations impacted include...
Hutchinson, Kingman, South Hutchinson, Haven, Pretty Prairie,
Partridge, Yoder, Murdock, Waterloo, Mt Vernon, Cheney State Park
and Cheney Lake.
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.
&&
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 AM CDT for
south central Kansas.
LAT...LON 3753 9811 3802 9810 3807 9770 3774 9770
3773 9781 3753 9781
TIME...MOT...LOC 0956Z 280DEG 15KT 3780 9794
METZGERSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
532 AM CDT Fri Jul 10 2020
KSZ082-101130-
Kingman KS-
532 AM CDT Fri Jul 10 2020
The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a
* Significant Weather Advisory for...
Eastern Kingman County in south central Kansas...
* Until 630 AM CDT.
* At 528 AM CDT...National Weather Service Doppler radar was tracking
a strong thunderstorm with locally heavy rainfall 6 miles northwest
of Norwich, or 10 miles southwest of Cheney...moving east at 15
mph.
* Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm.
* Locations impacted include...
Kingman, Norwich, Cleveland, Rago and Kingman Airport.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 AM CDT for
south central Kansas.
LAT...LON 3739 9810 3768 9822 3768 9796 3753 9796
3753 9781 3739 9781
TIME...MOT...LOC 1032Z 279DEG 14KT 3752 9793
METZGERSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Wichita KS 535 AM CDT Fri Jul 10 2020 KSZ047-101130- Barton KS- 535 AM CDT Fri Jul 10 2020 The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a * Significant Weather Advisory for... Southern Barton County in central Kansas... * Until 630 AM CDT. * At 532 AM CDT...National Weather Service Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm with locally heavy rainfall near Pawnee Rock, or 6 miles north of Larned...moving southeast at 20 mph. * Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. * Locations impacted include... Great Bend, Pawnee Rock, Albert and Great Bend 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. && A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 AM CDT for central Kansas. LAT...LON 3848 9903 3844 9859 3826 9863 3826 9903 TIME...MOT...LOC 1035Z 302DEG 16KT 3827 9907 METZGER
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
539 AM CDT Fri Jul 10 2020
KSZ083-101115-
Sedgwick KS-
539 AM CDT Fri Jul 10 2020
The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a
* Significant Weather Advisory for...
Sedgwick County in south central Kansas...
* Until 615 AM CDT.
* At 535 AM CDT...National Weather Service Doppler radar was tracking
a strong thunderstorm with locally heavy rainfall near Eisenhower
National Airport, or 6 miles southeast of Goddard...moving south at
15 mph.
* Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm.
* Locations impacted include...
Wichita, Derby, Haysville, Park City, Valley Center, Bel Aire,
Mulvane, Goddard, Maize, Clearwater, Cheney, Colwich, Garden Plain,
Downtown Wichita, Kechi, Andale, Eastborough, Viola, West Wichita
and Eisenhower National 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.
&&
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 AM CDT for
south central Kansas.
LAT...LON 3773 9781 3773 9770 3781 9770 3782 9715
3748 9716 3747 9780
TIME...MOT...LOC 1039Z 341DEG 15KT 3761 9748
METZGERSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
556 AM CDT Fri Jul 10 2020
KSZ091-092-101200-
Harper KS-Sumner KS-
556 AM CDT Fri Jul 10 2020
The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a
* Significant Weather Advisory for...
Harper County in south central Kansas...
Sumner County in south central Kansas...
* Until 700 AM CDT.
* At 553 AM CDT...National Weather Service Doppler radar was tracking
a strong thunderstorm with locally heavy rainfall 7 miles northwest
of Argonia, or 7 miles east of Harper...moving southeast at 40 mph.
* Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm.
* Locations impacted include...
Wellington, Anthony, Harper, Conway Springs, Caldwell, Argonia,
South Haven, Mayfield, Milan, Hunnewell, Bluff City, Danville,
Freeport, Perth, Riverdale, Runnymede, Crystal Springs and
Wellington 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.
&&
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 AM CDT for
south central Kansas.
LAT...LON 3700 9809 3738 9829 3738 9781 3747 9781
3747 9730 3700 9732
TIME...MOT...LOC 1056Z 331DEG 35KT 3731 9789
METZGERThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 flood, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
Minor street flooding was noted in town. Elsewhere, nuisance flooding was noted due to rainfall amounts between 2 and 3 inches across much of the western half of Sedgwick county. Images and reports were courtesy of KAKE TV.
A trained spotter reported the gust.
Tree limbs of 6 to 8 inches in diameter are down in the area. Numerous reports of smaller limbs were down around town.
Some water was flowing across K42 causing a minor inconvenience to traffic. The road was closed for a short period of time for safety purposes.
Rainfall report of 4.5 inches from the morning storms.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, July 2020
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: 902970, 911529, 902973, 902976, 902978.