The combination of multiple rounds of rainfall over the previous few days and heavy rain across portions of the Ozarks lead to additional 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 SGF wrote it up.
The combination of multiple rounds of rainfall over the previous few days and heavy rain across portions of the Ozarks lead to additional 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 Springfield, MO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 18, 1:49 AM CST, 13 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Springfield MO
249 AM CDT Sat Apr 18 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Showers and thunderstorms will end this morning. Residual
flooding of creeks and rivers will continue today.
- Much cooler temperatures and dry conditions are expected for
the rest of the weekend and into early next week. Low
temperatures in the low to middle 30s Saturday night could
cause frost formation.
- Rain chances increase (30-60%) by Thursday and Friday.
&&
.SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
Issued at 230 AM CDT Sat Apr 18 2026
Current Conditions and Synoptic Overview: Water vapor and upper
air analysis shows a strong shortwave trough pushing through the
central plains. A cold front was working through the area along with
a band of showers and thunderstorms. The severe thunderstorm
threat has ended however lightning and heavy rainfall continues.
Northwest wind gusts of 30-40 mph were occuring behind the
front as a much cooler airmass builds in. Temps were falling
into the upper 40s behind the front.
Showers and Thunderstorms Ending/Residual Flooding: The area of
showers and storms will continue moving southeast early this
morning, likely exiting the area around sunrise. Several area
creeks and streams are either in flood stage or have elevated
stream flows northwest of Interstate 44, especially across the
Osage and Spring River basins. Residual flooding will be a
concern today in these areas.
Much Cooler Day/ Frost Potential Tonight: HREF guidance suggests
that clouds should clear the area this morning with mostly clear
skies for the rest of the day. Low level cold air advection will
battle the increasing sun angle with afternoon highs expected to
reach the upper 50s to around 60. However gusty northwest winds
to 30mph will make it feel colder.
Surface high pressure looks to settle west of the area late
tonight. Mostly clear skies and light winds should allow for
temps to fall rapidly tonight. Latest NBM guidance suggests
temps will drop into the 30s however there is uncertainty on how
low. NBM generally has a 35-38 degree range (25th/75th
percentile) for the Springfield area however sheltered or wind
protected areas may drop a little lower (however not expecting
freezing temps). Confidence is just not high enough to issue a
Frost Advisory at this time, however there will likely be a few
spots that have some patchy frost Saturday night into Sunday
morning. If temps trend colder then a short fuse Frost Advisory
may be needed with future updates.
&&
.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Issued at 230 AM CDT Sat Apr 18 2026
Mostly Dry and Mild through mid week: Ensembles suggest that a
general northwest flow aloft will continue next week however
the lower level flow will become more southwesterly which will
allow for increasing temps. Temps look to warm a little bit each
day with 70s likely for highs. Rain chances remain less than 10
percent through Wednesday.
Rain Chances Thursday/Friday: Ensembles do suggest a large
trough will move into the Rockies during this time. This pattern looks
to set up our next rain/thunderstorm chances. CIPS analogs and
CSU Machine Learning probs do suggest the potential for severe
weather across the central/southern plains however
predictability in finer details is low for our area at this time
range.
&&
.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 1144 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026
For the 06z TAFS, convection continues to diminish in intensity
but will continue for JLN/SGF for a few hours and will push into
BBG by 07z. MVFR/IFR conditions are expected within the
convection, but should go into VFR after it moves out with a
clear sky by mid morning. Gusty northerly winds up to 25 kts
will be possible through the day Saturday.
&&
.SGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KS...Flood Watch until 7 AM CDT this morning for KSZ073-097-101.
MO...Flood Watch until 7 AM CDT this morning for MOZ055>058-066>071-
077>081-088>091-093-094.
&&
SHORT TERM...Burchfield
LONG TERM...Burchfield
AVIATION...LindenbergHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Springfield MO 759 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026 KSZ073-097-101-MOZ055>058-066>071-077>083-088>098-101>106-190100- 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- 759 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of the Missouri Ozarks and extreme southeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Weather hazards expected... Slight tornado risk. Slight hail risk. Moderate thunderstorm wind damage risk. Significant lightning risk. Elevated excessive rainfall risk Limited non thunderstorm wind risk. DISCUSSION... Strong to severe thunderstorms will continue this evening into the overnight hours. The main risks will be with damaging wind gusts up to 80 mph and the potential for spin-up tornadoes. In addition to the severe storms, heavy rainfall will occur and train across the same locations, which may produce some flash flooding. Flood Watch in effect tonight for locations along and northwest of the Interstate 44 corridor. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are likely with a few isolated amounts of 3 to 4 inches, especially closer to the Stockton to Truman Lake region. Storms should diminish in intensity and move out of the area by Saturday morning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Temperatures in the lower to middle 30s Saturday night into Sunday morning could lead to frost formation. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed tonight for the area due to the tornado risk. && More detailed information can be accessed at: http://www.weather.gov/sgf/dsspacket This product in graphical format...along with other weather... hydrological and climate information...at http://www.weather.gov/sgf Lindenberg
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Springfield MO
939 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0744 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Stover 38.44N 92.99W
04/17/2026 Morgan MO Law Enforcement
Reports of powerlines down and large debris
across roadways.
&&
TEOPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Springfield MO
942 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0934 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 NE Airport Drive 37.15N 94.50W
04/17/2026 M55 MPH Jasper MO ASOS
ASOS station KJLN Joplin ASOS.
&&
TEOPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Springfield MO
946 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0944 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Joplin 37.08N 94.51W
04/17/2026 Jasper MO Utility Company
Tree fell on line causing outages in Joplin.
&&
TEOPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Springfield MO
121 AM CDT Sat Apr 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0935 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Webb City 37.15N 94.48W
04/17/2026 Jasper MO Utility Company
Report of a tree limbs falling into
powerlines and a tree down in Webb City.
&&
MBPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Springfield MO
122 AM CDT Sat Apr 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0930 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 WNW Oronogo 37.21N 94.51W
04/17/2026 Jasper MO Utility Company
Report of a broken power pole due to
thunderstorm winds north of Webb City.
&&
MBPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Springfield MO
123 AM CDT Sat Apr 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0945 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 NNW Fidelity 37.11N 94.33W
04/17/2026 Jasper MO Utility Company
Thunderstorm winds downed a tree into
powerlines south of Carthage.
&&
MBThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
9 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
State Highway 97 was closed at Keller Branch due to flooding.
State Highway D was closed at Center Creek due to flooding.
The low water crossing at Hayes Road and Greasy Creek was closed due to flooding.
State Highway a BB and Gabriel Creek was flooded and impassable.
State Highway Z at Elk Creek was flooded and impassable.
State Highway BB at Big Piney River was closed due to flooding.
State Highway E at the Gasconade River was closed due to flooding.
State Highway O at the Spring River was flooded and closed.
State Highway V at the Little Osage River was flooded and impassable.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Missouri in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Missouri, April 2026
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: 1331473, 1331474, 1331476, 1331477, 1331478, 1331479, 1331480, 1331481, 1331482.