From the late evening of the 16th to the early morning of the 17th, strong to severe storms associated with a mesoscale convective system produced isolated rainfall accumulations of over 7 inches eastern McDonald and western Barry counties. Isolated severe hail and wind gusts also occurred with these storms.
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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.
From the late evening of the 16th to the early morning of the 17th, strong to severe storms associated with a mesoscale convective system produced isolated rainfall accumulations of over 7 inches eastern McDonald and western Barry counties. Isolated severe hail and wind gusts also occurred with these storms.
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 Jul 16, 5:42 AM CST, 18 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Springfield MO 642 AM CDT Thu Jul 16 2020 .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) Issued at 1216 AM CDT Thu Jul 16 2020 Relatively quiet and seasonably hot weather will occur today. A weak sfc front will stall over northern AR while a weak upper level shear axis/MCV now over western KS and the OK/TX Panhandles approaches the area for the west. Isolated storms will be possible close to the MO/AR/OK border for the mid/late afternoon. Can't rule out a robust updraft/strong/severe storm near the sfc frontal zone convergence, but most guidance keeps the somewhat better (but still low) chances to the south and southwest of the area. Will mention the marginal SPC risk for our far southern counties in our hazardous weather outlook. Some very low rain chances may also be needed late tonight into early Friday as weak veering low level jet noses into the western cwfa. .LONG TERM...(Friday through Wednesday) Issued at 1216 AM CDT Thu Jul 16 2020 Overview: Main overall concern will be heat and worsening drought conditions during this time. While rain chances will not be nil, there doesn't appear to be much chance for widespread long duration rain. Heat advisories will become increasingly likely either for daily heat index values of 105 deg F or four (plus) consecutive days of 100 to 105. Friday: Scattered convection will continue to be possible Friday with a weak upper level shear axis over the area during the afternoon with diurnal/afternoon moderate to strong instability. Have some shower/tstms chances to cover this period, more focused on southern MO. May need a heat advisory for at least part of the area for Friday and next shifts will be looking at this. Saturday/Sunday: Hot with slightly lower mixture/pwats. With a upper level subtropical ridge becoming more established, rain chances will be lower, but not quite nil. Monday-Wednesday: The main belt of midlevel upper level westerlies will remain north of the area and guidance varies on how far south a sfc front or will be pushed by Tue-Wed. Blended guidance has daily small rain chances, mainly diurnally driven. The GFS looks more "bullish" with precip chances versus other global models, but they aren't overly high. Overall this period will have above normal temperatures with sparse, mainly afternoon/evening diurnal tstms. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Friday morning) Issued at 641 AM CDT Thu Jul 16 2020 KSGF/KJLN/KBBG tafs: VFR. A weak front will stall over northern AR with a few isolated storms possible, but coverage looks to limited to include in tafs attm. Best chances will be near the MO/AR state line (KBBG). && .SGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MO...NONE. KS...NONE. && SHORT TERM...DSA LONG TERM...DSA AVIATION...DSA
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Springfield MO 208 AM CDT Thu Jul 16 2020 KSZ073-097-101-MOZ055>058-066>071-077>083-088>098-101>106-170715- 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- 208 AM CDT Thu Jul 16 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of the Missouri Ozarks and extreme southeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Weather hazards expected... Limited hail risk. Limited thunderstorm wind damage risk. Limited lightning risk. Limited excessive heat risk. DISCUSSION... Isolated afternoon thunderstorms will be possible in counties close to the Oklahoma and Arkansas state lines closer to a stalled front to the south. An isolated severe storm will be possible, but most the area will remain dry. Heat index values in the 90s to near 100 degrees are expected this afternoon. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Scattered thunderstorms are expected Friday. Isolated afternoon/evening thunderstorms are expected again on a daily basis, mainly Monday through Wednesday. These storms are expected to be short lived with only limited rainfall. Afternoon heat index values in the upper 90s to near 105 degrees are expected on a daily basis. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... A general spotter activation will not be needed through tonight given the isolated nature of the storm risk. && 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 DSA
The Springfield radar (KSGF), 93 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:58 UTC.
11 thunderstorm wind, 7 heavy rain, 3 hail, 3 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
The Co-op Observer WABM7 5 west of Washburn reported a 24 hour rainfall of 3.25 inchs and the CoCoRAHS at MO-BY-3 3 miles north of Seligman recorded 2.18 inches of rain.
The CoCoRAHS station at MO-FSA-057 Near Greenfield recorded a 24 rainfall total of 2.35 inches and the Co-op observer at Greenfield recorded 2.25 inches.
The CoCoRAHS station MO-FSA-109 near Mount Vernon recorded a 24 hour rainfall total of 2.18 inches and the station 5 miles northeast of Peirce City recorded 2.16 inches.
A large tree was reported uprooted with numerous 6 to 8 inch diameter limbs down.
Strong thunderstorm winds uprooted a large tree and knocked the tops out of several others along Highway O and Redbud Roads. An old hay bard also suffered minor damage.
Thunderstorms winds toppled a large tree and a car port suffered significant roof damage.
Quarter sized hail was reported.
Penny sized hail was reported.
A barn had the north facing roof peeled back from high winds. Damage to the remainder of the structure was limited.
Quarter sized hail was reported.
Two large trees were reported down near the intersection of Farm Roads 1020 and 2040 and on power lines causing power outages in the area.
Several large limbs were knocked out of hardwood trees.
A large walnut tree was down and blocking traffic on County Road 2190, about a half mile west of Highway H.
A large tree was uprooted and blocking County Road 1070.
A large tree was reported down across Highway 86 blocking traffic.
Numerous trees were uprooted or suffered significant limb damage from high winds. A few outbuildings also suffered minor roof and siding damage.
A large tree was uprooted and fell on a home causing minor roof an siding damage.
Forty seven campers were stranded by rapidly rising flood waters at the Creekside Campground. All were safely relocated.
Six people were rescued at the Big Sugar Island Campground due to rapidly rising water. All were rescued safely with no injuries.
The public reported measuring 1.50 inches of rain in an hour and a half.
The Mesonet station EW4150 measured 1.99 inches of rain in an hour and 15 minutes.
The Mesonet station FW 6791 measured 4.06 inches of rain in just over an hours time.
The Mesonet station AV374 measure 2.61 inches of rain in an hour and a half.
Highway YY was closed at the low water crossing on Deer Creek.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Missouri in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Missouri, 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: 913022, 913024, 913025, 911831, 912798, 912799, 911814, 911816, 912800, 911818, 912801, 912802, 912803, 912804, 912805, 912806, 912807, 911824, 911826, 913026, 913027, 913028, 913029, 911827.