Several counties experienced flash flooding following widespread thunderstorms during the afternoon of 7/29.
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.
Several counties experienced flash flooding following widespread thunderstorms during the afternoon of 7/29.
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 29, 4:47 AM CST, 6 hours 13 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Topeka KS 547 AM CDT Wed Jul 29 2020 ...Update to aviation forecast discussion... .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 255 AM CDT Wed Jul 29 2020 The local forecast area has been nearly dry for the past few hours, though this appears to steadily change this morning and may not be the case again until the weekend. Main convection nearby is along the KS/OK border where modest isentropic upglide around 305 K has resulted in a few areas of linear convection. A few short wavelength upper troughs were objectively analyzed over central and southern portions of Oklahoma, with a larger-scale trough over the northern Rockies. TOP, SGF, DDC, and OUN 0Z soundings measured a very moist lower to middle troposphere with precipitable water values around 2 inches. && .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) Issued at 255 AM CDT Wed Jul 29 2020 Influence of the approaching Rockies wave leads to increasing broad- scale lift across central and eastern portions of Kansas through the day, and along with the early-day upglide pushing northeast into this same area, further expansion of precipitation is supported through the day. Some decrease in coverage seems likely late the day, but an uptick is likely in the late evening and overnight with minor potential for an MCS grazing southwestern locations and the upstream wave deepening somewhat as it settles into eastern Kansas. Instability is tempered by modest lapse rates and the expected early- day increase in precip/cloud, and in concert with weak wind fields, severe weather threats look quite low, with the main area of concern being the southwest with the possible MCS. The high PW values and slow storm motions over scattered areas of wet ground and elevated river levels lead to a flash flood/areal flood/river flood concern, but the lack of a focusing mechanism and 1-hour flash flood guidance values well above 1.5 inches for the bulk of the area give too little confidence in anything more than isolated problems. .LONG TERM...(Thursday through Tuesday) Issued at 255 AM CDT Wed Jul 29 2020 The aforementioned upper trough makes only slow southeastward movement Thursday into Friday as an upper ridge builds over the western CONUS. Precipitation amounts continue to be the main concern in cool and modified lower levels though again any confidence in where the heavier amounts will be is low. Total amounts by Friday night of near two inches will likely be common however. Northerly flow through much of the troposphere dominates the weekend into early next week, keeping temperatures below daily normals for what is normally near the hottest time of year with a much drier period very likely. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Thursday morning) Issued at 547 AM CDT Wed Jul 29 2020 Shower activity has returned to the region and will likely continue through the bulk of this forecast. Visibility restrictions should be the biggest impact though at least isolated TS are possible, with very little confidence on exact timing of these greater impacts as has been seen in recent days. Lower cloud looks to push east around 20Z, but low-level moisture looks to build in from the east and could bring a persistent IFR stratus deck in late in this forecast. Went low MVFR at this range. && .TOP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SYNOPSIS...65 SHORT TERM...65 LONG TERM...65 AVIATION...65
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Topeka KS 321 AM CDT Wed Jul 29 2020 KSZ008>012-020>024-026-034>040-054>056-058-059-300830- Republic-Washington-Marshall-Nemaha-Brown-Cloud-Clay-Riley- Pottawatomie-Jackson-Jefferson-Ottawa-Dickinson-Geary-Morris- Wabaunsee-Shawnee-Douglas-Lyon-Osage-Franklin-Coffey-Anderson- 321 AM CDT Wed Jul 29 2020 This hazardous weather outlook is for east central...north central and northeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Scattered to numerous showers with some thunderstorms are expected much of today and tonight. Locally heavy rainfall is possible, and minor flooding could result especially where ground conditions are saturated from recent heavy rains. Minor river flooding of some rivers and creeks in north central and northeast Kansas will continue through late tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Showers and thunderstorms are likely Thursday and some chance for additional rainfall persists into late Friday. Additional local heavy rainfall may occur, leading to additional potential for flooding. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed through tonight. && More detailed information can be accessed at... http://www.weather.gov/top/sitrep
The Topeka radar (KTWX), 99 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:01 UTC.
14 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Water reported over several roads with a depth of up to two feet in some places.
Another report of water over several roads with a depth of up to two feet in places.
Water reported covering the road south of the town of Home.
Report of water covering part of the highway east of the town of Beattie.
Water covering the county road with creek out of its banks.
County road covered with water.
Water reported over 120th Road.
Deep water flowing over Louis Vieux Road from farm field.
Report of water over the road at K-4 and 39th Street.
Water flowing over SE 34th street was approaching homes.
Water reported over the roadway at 29th and Croco.
Report of water over the roadway at the intersection of Highway 40 and Shawnee Heights Road.
Reports of water over the roadway at the intersection of 45th and Croco. Vehicles are reported to be stalled within the intersection.
Public reports cars submerged half way up the door and two feet of running water over the roadway.
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: 912284, 912286, 912276, 912277, 912278, 912280, 912287, 912289, 912330, 912322, 912324, 912327, 912328, 912325.