Flash flooding occurred in several counties following a batch of strong thunderstorms in north-central KS. An isolated storm in Franklin County also caused flooding.
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 TOP wrote it up.
Flash flooding occurred in several counties following a batch of strong thunderstorms in north-central KS. An isolated storm in Franklin County also caused flooding.
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 Topeka, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 26, 5:34 PM CST, 45 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Topeka KS 634 PM CDT Sun Jul 26 2020 ...Update to aviation forecast discussion... .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Monday) Issued at 349 PM CDT Sun Jul 26 2020 As of mid-afternoon, a hot and very humid airmass remained in place over northeastern Kansas with heat index values between 100 and 105 degrees. Thus, we will allow the current Heat Advisory to remain in place until 7:00 PM. Focus will then turn toward thunderstorm and flooding potential this evening and tonight. At 20Z, storms that had developed in southeastern Nebraska along a weak surface trough ahead of an advancing cold front were slowly sagging southward toward the KS border. Aloft, a large trough centered over central Canada was working across the Dakotas. As the trough moves eastward, the surface front will continue to advance south, entering northern Kansas this evening. Forcing along the boundary will allow continued rain and thunderstorm development this evening. A few storms this afternoon and evening could be strong to severe with damaging wind being the most likely hazard given CAPE values between 4000 and 5000 J/kg. Shear, however, is the limiting factor with only about 15 to 20 kts of effective bulk shear expected this afternoon and evening. Flash flooding looks to be the bigger concern area-wide with this round of rain for several reasons: weak flow aloft will allow the surface boundary to be slow moving through the night and ample moisture is readily available. Dewpoints are in the mid 70s, models show Pwats exceeding 2.0 inches near the boundary, and forecast soundings depict a fairly saturated column across the area. Storms could produce a widespread one to two inches of rain with locally higher amounts possible into tomorrow morning. As such, a Flash Flood Watch remains in effect until 7 AM tomorrow morning. The boundary should become more diffuse during the day tomorrow so rain will begin to taper off. Lingering showers and cloud cover will keep conditions cool (relatively speaking) through the day with highs in the low 80s. .LONG TERM...(Monday night through Sunday) Issued at 349 PM CDT Sun Jul 26 2020 General upper level troughing will dominate our pattern through the week - quite the shift from our recent large scale ridging. Thus, conditions are expected to be much cooler this week with highs remaining in the 80s. Periodic rain chances occur in the forecast with the next decent chance looking to arrive Wednesday when an upper system develops off the northern Intermountain West and slides southward over the central Plains. Models show that system producing rainfall over the area through the end of the week and we are continuing to forecast total rainfall amounts of two to four inches across the entire forecast area through the end of this upcoming workweek. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Monday evening) Issued at 634 PM CDT Sun Jul 26 2020 Outflow boundary has moved through TOP and should move through MHK and FOE around the start of the forecast period. Will keep vcts wording going as much of the convection will be scattered and may remain to the west of each of the terminals. A line of tsra sagging southward may affect the terminals after 04Z and will update for this as needed. MVFR vsbys will be common with any of the tsra and could have brief reductions to ifr as well. Cigs look to remain vfr til 12Z when mvfr cigs are expected through about 21Z with scattered shra and tsra. && .TOP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for KSZ008>012-020>024- 026-034>040-054>056-058-059. Flash Flood Watch through Monday morning for KSZ008>012-020>023- 034>037. && SHORT TERM...Teefey LONG TERM...Teefey AVIATION...53
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Topeka KS 659 PM CDT Sun Jul 26 2020 KSZ008>012-020>024-026-034>040-054>056-058-059-280000- Republic-Washington-Marshall-Nemaha-Brown-Cloud-Clay-Riley- Pottawatomie-Jackson-Jefferson-Ottawa-Dickinson-Geary-Morris- Wabaunsee-Shawnee-Douglas-Lyon-Osage-Franklin-Coffey-Anderson- 659 PM CDT Sun Jul 26 2020 This hazardous weather outlook is for east central...north central and northeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Thunderstorm chances increase from north to south across the area this evening and tonight. A few severe storms this evening may produce damaging wind gusts. Heavy rainfall then becomes the main concern into tonight. Flash flooding will be possible with a widespread one to two inches of rain expected. Locally higher amounts could also occur. As such, a Flash Flood Watch remains in effect for central and north central Kansas from 7 pm this evening into early Monday. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Thunderstorms with heavy rainfall will linger into early Monday morning, tapering off north to south through the day. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed through tonight. && More detailed information can be accessed at... http://www.weather.gov/top/sitrep
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
350 PM CDT Sun Jul 26 2020
KSZ011-012-262145-
Brown-Nemaha-
350 PM CDT Sun Jul 26 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN NEMAHA AND BROWN
COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM CDT...
At 350 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 3 miles southwest of Forest City to near Hamlin
to 3 miles southeast of Bern. Movement was southeast at 20 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Hiawatha, Sabetha, Fairview, Robinson, Morrill, Bern, Reserve, Oneida
and Hamlin.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 4000 9534 3979 9534 3977 9557 3981 9601
4000 9605
TIME...MOT...LOC 2050Z 336DEG 15KT 3995 9523 3990 9564 3994 9592
BaergSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Topeka KS 452 PM CDT Sun Jul 26 2020 KSZ009-262215- Washington- 452 PM CDT Sun Jul 26 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN WASHINGTON COUNTY UNTIL 515 PM CDT... At 451 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 5 miles east of Mahaska, moving east at 15 mph. Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Mahaska. 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. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. && LAT...LON 4000 9702 3985 9705 3987 9737 4000 9737 TIME...MOT...LOC 2151Z 277DEG 15KT 3999 9725 Baerg
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Topeka KS 454 PM CDT Sun Jul 26 2020 KSZ008-262230- Republic- 454 PM CDT Sun Jul 26 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN REPUBLIC COUNTY UNTIL 530 PM CDT... At 454 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Chester, moving southeast at 20 mph. Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Belleville and Munden. 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. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. && LAT...LON 3983 9764 4000 9778 4000 9737 TIME...MOT...LOC 2154Z 311DEG 17KT 4001 9765 Baerg
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Topeka KS 518 PM CDT Sun Jul 26 2020 KSZ009-010-262300- Washington-Marshall- 518 PM CDT Sun Jul 26 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN WASHINGTON AND NORTHERN MARSHALL COUNTIES UNTIL 600 PM CDT... At 518 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 6 miles northeast of Oketo to 3 miles southeast of Narka. Movement was southeast at 10 mph. Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with these storms. Locations impacted include... Marysville, Hanover, Summerfield, Morrowville, Haddam, Mahaska, Oketo, Hollenberg and Bremen. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. && LAT...LON 4000 9624 3988 9624 3981 9737 4000 9737 TIME...MOT...LOC 2218Z 303DEG 10KT 4001 9650 3993 9737 Baerg
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
555 PM CDT Sun Jul 26 2020
KSZ008>010-020>022-270000-
Republic-Clay-Cloud-Riley-Washington-Marshall-
555 PM CDT Sun Jul 26 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN RILEY...SOUTHERN
REPUBLIC...SOUTHERN WASHINGTON...NORTHERN CLAY...NORTHEASTERN CLOUD
AND MARSHALL COUNTIES UNTIL 700 PM CDT...
At 555 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Scandia to 5 miles south of Morrowville to
3 miles east of Marysville. Movement was southeast at 25 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Concordia, Marysville, Washington, Blue Rapids, Frankfort, Clyde,
Waterville, Clifton, Linn, Scandia, Greenleaf, Barnes, Cuba, Norway,
Vermillion, Palmer, Agenda, Vining and Lillis.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3982 9789 3980 9719 3991 9654 3971 9624
3957 9624 3957 9658 3954 9660 3953 9663
3951 9664 3948 9681 3949 9761
TIME...MOT...LOC 2255Z 318DEG 21KT 3978 9775 3976 9714 3986 9658
BaergPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
717 PM CDT SUN JUL 26 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0710 PM HEAVY RAIN 1 S BAILEYVILLE 39.83N 96.18W
07/26/2020 M2.63 INCH NEMAHA KS CO-OP OBSERVER
RAIN TOTAL THROUGH 7:10 PM.
&&
BAERGThe Grand Island radar (KUEX), 85 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:16 UTC.
4 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Flooding occurring on multiple streets in Bellville.
Water over a 100 foot stretch of road near Crest and 40th, and a roadway under water at the 200 section of Eagle Road.
Water reported over roadway within the 5200 block of Swede Creek Road.
Water flowing across a road.
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: 911995, 912007, 911996, 911998.