Extreme Rainfall and Flooding September 8-9th

Overview

An unusually moist atmosphere for September standards (courtesy of Hurricane Newton remnants over western Mexico) in concert with subtle upper level disturbances approaching from the southwest combined to produced several bouts of very heavy rainfall across large portions of the area this past week. A strong cold front surged southeast across the area Friday night, bringing an end to the deluge.

Rainfall amounts proved extreme, with widespread 3 to 6 inch amounts across much of the southeast quarter of Kansas. Localized amounts even exceeded 8 to 10 inches. Much of the rainfall came in relatively short periods, with rainfall rates at times exceeding 3 inches per hour. The image to the right, courtesy of the Lyon County Sheriff's Office, provides one example of the flooding, due to the extreme rainfall, impacts felt across much of south central and southeast Kansas.

New #flashflooding video from @BrandonIveyWX in Wichita, KS #flood #scvwx #kswx https://t.co/XC8s6b90uQ
— StormChasingVideo (@StormChasingVid) September 9, 2016

Significant #flooding occurring in the Mulvane, KS area has created many issues. #KSwx #LSMwx https://t.co/j7KdjwzXyf
— Live Storms Media (@LiveStormsMedia) September 10, 2016

Photo of the widespread flooding impacts across the Wichita Metro. Photo courtesy of Sedgwick County (@SedgwickCounty).

Click image to make larger

Flooding
Radar
Rainfall
Climatology

Flooding

Excessive runoff from the heavy rainfall resulted in rapid rises on many area rivers and streams. Water exceeded major flood stage along the Ninnescah River at Belle Plaine, and also the Walnut River at Winfield. The Ninnescah crest was a record for that site.

River/Stream Hydrographs


Cowskin Creek, Wichita (119th St)	Ninnescah River, Belle Plaine	Arkansas River, Oxford	Chikaskia River, Corbin


Whitewater River, Augusta	Walnut River, Winfield	Neosho River, Parsons	Fall River, Fredonia

Radar

Here is an animation showing the radar reflectivity beginning on the evening of Wednesday, Sept. 7th and running through the morning of Saturday, Sept. 10th.

Highest Rainfall Reports

**3-Day Totals (inches)**
3.9 NNE Clearwater	13.90
4.1 N Clearwater	13.37
7 N Clearwater	12.90
0.4 WNW Clearwater	12.27
0.2 SSW Clearwater	11.24
3.8 SSE Haysville	10.62
2.9 N Derby	9.88
4.6 NNE Norwich	9.79
1.5 ESE Mulvane	9.74
2.8 W Conway Springs	9.18
Wichita Eisenhower Airport	8.96
9.0 E Wichita	8.65
2.2 SW Garden Plain	8.25
0.5 NNE Cheney	8.15
4.2 ENE Udall	8.06
0.7 N Goddard	7.58
1.2 NNW Wichita	7.47
0.1 NW Buffalo	7.45
3 E Wichita	7.37
3.2 NW Benton	7.35
1.4 NE Garden Plain	7.10
2.5 WNW Wichita	6.76
3.2 NW Wichita	6.55
6.3 ENE Whitewater	6.46

Climatology

The below images depict precipitation and precipitation departures from normal for the last 30 days and year-to-date through September 10th. A large portion of the southeast quarter of Kansas has received at least 5-6 inches over the past 30 days, with pockets ranging from 10-20 inches. This is 4-8 inches wetter than the 30-day normal. In contrast, small pockets over northwest Reno, eastern Stafford and southwest Rice counties in central Kansas are running a few inches below normal the past 30 days.

Additionally, a large portion of the southeast quarter of Kansas has received 30-35 inches of precipitation since January 1st, with pockets ranging from 40-60 inches. This is as high as 20 inches wetter than normal. In contrast, a large portion of Montgomery county in southeast Kansas is running 8-12 inches below normal since January 1st.

Click each image to enlarge.

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