During the early morning hours of August 19th, a complex of storms brought severe winds to portions of Johnson County, KS. A cloud to ground lightning strike also caused a large house fire.
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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 EAX wrote it up.
During the early morning hours of August 19th, a complex of storms brought severe winds to portions of Johnson County, KS. A cloud to ground lightning strike also caused a large house fire.
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 Kansas City, MO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 19, 3:16 AM CST, 1 hour 29 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO 416 AM CDT Tue Aug 19 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms early this morning. A few storms may pack strong winds and heavy rainfall. - Heat index values around much of the region reach near to just above 100F. Some areas near Butler and Clinton could briefly see heat index values near 105F. - Additional storms are possible later this afternoon and evening across southern portions of the CWA (I-70/US-50 south) more likely along the I-44 corridor. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 415 AM CDT Tue Aug 19 2025 A cooler air mass is slowly working its way into the region. Satellite and radar imagery through the night shows a couple mesoscale convective systems around the region, one over northern KS and another over northern IL. Satellite imagery also shows a boundary across west central MO which is likely the boundary between the antecedent hot air mass of the past week and the cooler one that is steadily making its way into the area. Outflow boundaries ejected by the nearby MCS are moving through the area providing just enough lift to initiate some isolated elevated thunderstorms this morning. These storms have been relatively short lived as upper level flow has been relatively weak with just enough instability to initiate storms, but not enough to sustain them. Some storms have been able to harness the instability and build quickly; however, this also leads to them to dissipate quickly. The results in potential downbursts and microbursts winds around 40-50 MPH along with heavy rainfall. The boundary between the hot and cooler air mass will be the primary focus feature for todays weather outlook. This boundary has made it a bit farther south than previous model guidance forecast suggested which shifts the storm potential farther south. The boundary has retreated a little further north with influence from the MCS to the west as well as a weakening upper level ridge extending from eastern OK through WV. The end result is this feature sitting across east central KS and west central MO from around Garnett, KS through Columbia, MO. Solar heating through the day will enhance differential heating across this boundary. South of the boundary, diurnal heating plus southerly flow brings heat indices above 100-105F. The location of this boundary through our southern tier of counties looks to limit the potential for hazardous heat to a small portion of the afternoon. Any clouds or storms that form due to the boundary may also tamper with heat indicies. Heat index values north of the boundary are expected to be lower thanks to weak northerly flow at most all levels. Unfortunately, this flow will not be enough to keep hot and humid conditions away, but it will limit most areas from exceeding 100-102F. Differential heating across this boundary also serves as a catalyst for slight warm frontogenesis and initiate isolated to scattered convection across our southern two tiers of counties. With vertical profiles showing generally weak flow across all levels, it will likely take an outflow boundary or some other catalyst to initiate storms. Like this morning, this will likely keep any storms that form to behave more like pulse storms rather than robust convection. Expected CAPE values around 1500-3000 J/kg show the potential for strong updrafts which could produce a strong storm with heavy rainfall and potentially damaging winds; however, these are expected to be quite short lived; yielding a marginal risk for strong to severe storms later this afternoon. The cooler air mass to the north continues to track southward through the day bringing more seasonal conditions starting Wednesday through the rest of the week. Another wave of cooler air looks to move in towards the weekend bringing our next notable chance of precipitation while also ushering in even cooler temperatures with prospective highs in the mid to upper 70s. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 1115 PM CDT Mon Aug 18 2025 VFR conditions through the period. Light and variable winds through the overnight. Mixing will lead to light north-northeast throughout the daylight with few-scattered cumulus near 3K. Outside chance of a thunderstorm or two, but confidence is low so left mention out of the terminals for the time being. && .EAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MO...None. KS...None. && DISCUSSION...Pesel AVIATION...BT
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO 0505 AM CDT Tue Aug 19 2025 KSZ025-057-060-102>105-MOZ001>008-011>017-020>025-028>033-037>040- 043>046-053-054-201005- Atchison KS-Miami-Linn KS-Doniphan-Leavenworth-Wyandotte-Johnson KS- Atchison MO-Nodaway-Worth-Gentry-Harrison-Mercer-Putnam-Schuyler- Holt-Andrew-De Kalb-Daviess-Grundy-Sullivan-Adair-Buchanan-Clinton- Caldwell-Livingston-Linn MO-Macon-Platte-Clay-Ray-Carroll-Chariton- Randolph-Jackson-Lafayette-Saline-Howard-Cass-Johnson MO-Pettis- Cooper-Bates-Henry- 0505 AM CDT Tue Aug 19 2025 This hazardous weather outlook is for northwest...north central and west central Missouri...as well as extreme eastern Kansas. .DAY ONE...Through tonight. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .KEY MESSAGES... - Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms early this morning. A few storms may pack strong winds and heavy rainfall. - Heat index values around much of the region reach near to just above 100F. Some areas near Butler and Clinton could briefly see heat index values near 105F. - Additional storms are possible later this afternoon and evening across southern portions of the CWA (I-70/US-50 south) more likely along the I-44 corridor.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
431 AM CDT Tue Aug 19 2025
KSZ103-104-MOZ028-029-191000-
Wyandotte KS-Leavenworth KS-Platte MO-Clay MO-
431 AM CDT Tue Aug 19 2025
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN WYANDOTTE...EAST
CENTRAL LEAVENWORTH...WEST CENTRAL CLAY AND SOUTHEASTERN PLATTE
COUNTIES THROUGH 500 AM CDT...
At 431 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms near Kansas City Intl Arpt, moving southeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Gladstone, Lansing, Smithville, Parkville, Platte City, North Kansas
City, Riverside, Weatherby Lake, Kansas City Kansas, Kansas City Intl
Arpt, Kansas City, Lake Waukomis, Ferrelview, Platte Woods, Oakview,
Northmoor, Houston Lake, Tracy, Farley, and Oakwood Park.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 70 in Missouri near mile marker 0.
Interstate 70 in Kansas between mile markers 418 and 423.
Interstate 29 between mile markers 2 and 20.
Interstate 635 between mile markers 5 and 12.
Interstate 435 between mile markers 18 and 46.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3922 9490 3938 9479 3933 9448 3907 9463
TIME...MOT...LOC 0931Z 298DEG 19KT 3927 9476
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
CDBSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
535 AM CDT Tue Aug 19 2025
KSZ104-105-MOZ028-029-037-191100-
Johnson KS-Wyandotte KS-Platte MO-Jackson MO-Clay MO-
535 AM CDT Tue Aug 19 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WYANDOTTE...NORTHEASTERN
JOHNSON...SOUTHWESTERN CLAY...SOUTHEASTERN PLATTE AND NORTHWESTERN
JACKSON COUNTIES THROUGH 600 AM CDT...
At 535 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Kansas City, Kansas, or near Parkville, moving southeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Kansas City, Overland Park, Independence, Shawnee, Leawood,
Gladstone, Prairie Village, Merriam, Mission, Parkville,
Edwardsville, North Kansas City, Fairway, Mission Hills, Sugar Creek,
Riverside, Weatherby Lake, Westwood, Lake Quivira, and Kansas City
Kansas.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 70 in Missouri between mile markers 0 and 8.
Interstate 70 in Kansas between mile markers 411 and 423.
Interstate 35 in Missouri between mile markers 0 and 9.
Interstate 35 in Kansas between mile markers 226 and 235.
Interstate 29 between mile markers 0 and 6.
Interstate 635 between mile markers 0 and 12.
Interstate 435 between mile markers 9 and 14, between mile markers
55 and 64, and between mile markers 74 and 77.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3910 9484 3925 9472 3914 9441 3889 9461
TIME...MOT...LOC 1035Z 303DEG 24KT 3914 9470
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
CDBThe Pleasant Hill radar (KEAX), 43 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 10:44 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Social media report with photos showing large tree limbs downed at a residence near 14th Street and Steele Road.
Tree limbs downed in Roeland Park from microburst.
Social media report showing power lines downed near State Line and 47th Street, causing a fire. Large tree limbs were downed in this area, as well, from just west of State Line toward Mission Road and south toward Shawnee Mission Parkway. KEAX radar showed a clear microburst in this location.
Large house fire caused by lightning strike just before 6 AM CDT on August 19th at 119th and Cherokee in Leawood.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, August 2025
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: 1275473, 1275468, 1275474, 1275472.