Severe Storms and Flash Flooding Impact Northeast Kansas on Thu. June 16, 2010

On Wednesday thunderstorms formed near mid day in Clay, Geary, Riley, and Pottawatomie Counties.  Excessive rainfall in the area was caused by many storms producing heavy rain passing over the same area.  Heavy rain during the previous day caused the ground to become saturated.  During the afternoon of June 16th nearly 2 more inches fell across this area in a short period of time causing flash flooding throughout the area.  As the storm system moved eastward it continued to produce heavy rain.  As it went through Topeka it dropped 2.31 inches of rain in one hour and an additional .45 inch the next hour for a total of 2.76 inches over the two hour span between 5 pm and 7 pm.  By the time the rain stopped 2.78 inches of rain fell at Billard Airport which broke the one day record rainfall total for June 16th.  The record was previously held by the year 1996.   Many cars stalled in flooded streets in Topeka as the water rose.  In Lawrence heavy rain caused significant flooding to streets and parks within the city.  At one point the Buford M. Watson park at Tennessee St and 7th St. near downtown Lawrence was under eight feet of rushing water.  Numerous water rescues were conducted throughout town as motorists became stranded by the quickly rising water.  Aside from Topeka and Lawrence, the hardest hit areas from the deluge were portions of Pottawatomie and Riley Counties as heavy rain caused many roads to be closed.

Flooding was not the only type of hazardous weather to impact northeastern Kansas on Wednesday.  Some of the storms responsible for the flash flooding also brought severe hail and wind to the area.  Many reports of quarter sized hail were received by the National Weather Service office in Topeka, and a storm near Junction City brought golfball sized hail to that area around 2 PM.  Strong, damaging winds associated with the  storms also affected portions of Shawnee and Douglas Counties.  The NWS in Topeka observed a 62 mph wind gust, and an automated weather station at Lawrence Municipal Airport reported a 58 mph wind gust.  As a result of the strong winds many tree limbs up to 6 inches in diameter snapped off of trees in Topeka and Lawrence.

Click on the Above Image for a radar loop.

Below are images of flash flooding in Lawrence, provided by Douglas County Emergency Management.  (Click on the photos to enlarge)

Click on the image for an interactive map of severe weather reports.

Local Storm Reports

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1222 PM     HEAVY RAIN       MILTONVALE              39.35N 97.45W
06/16/2010  E2.00 INCH       CLOUD              KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            RAIN FELL OVER PREVIOUS 30 MINUTES. WATER IS FILLING
            GUTTERS ALONG SIDE ROADS IN MILTONVALE.

1232 PM     HEAVY RAIN       RILEY                   39.30N 96.83W
06/16/2010  E1.50 INCH       RILEY              KS   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            RAIN FELL OVER PREVIOUS 45 MINUTES. MINOR STREET FLOODING
            WAS REPORTED IN RILEY.

0154 PM     FLOOD            MILFORD                 39.17N 96.91W
06/16/2010                   GEARY              KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TWO ROADS FLOODING NEAR THE NORTH END OF MILFORD LAKE.

0156 PM     HAIL             4 NW JUNCTION CITY      39.07N 96.88W
06/16/2010  E1.00 INCH       GEARY              KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            ON THE DAM AT MILFORD LAKE.

0200 PM     FLASH FLOOD      KEATS                   39.22N 96.71W
06/16/2010                   RILEY              KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            NUMEROUS ROADS REPORTED FLOODED BETWEEN MANHATTAN, KEATS
            AND OGDEN

0202 PM     HAIL             1 WNW JUNCTION CITY     39.04N 96.85W
06/16/2010  E1.00 INCH       GEARY              KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

0206 PM     HAIL             5 N JUNCTION CITY       39.10N 96.83W
06/16/2010  E1.75 INCH       RILEY              KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

0213 PM     HAIL             OGDEN                   39.11N 96.71W
06/16/2010  E1.00 INCH       RILEY              KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

0215 PM     HAIL             5 N JUNCTION CITY       39.10N 96.83W
06/16/2010  E1.25 INCH       RILEY              KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

0230 PM     FLASH FLOOD      3 WNW ST. MARYS         39.21N 96.12W
06/16/2010                   POTTAWATOMIE       KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            FLASH FLOODING ALONG OREGON TRAIL ROAD WASHED TWO
            VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. TIME ESTIMATED.

0242 PM     FLASH FLOOD      3 ENE JUNCTION CITY     39.05N 96.78W
06/16/2010                   GEARY              KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            3 INCHES OF WATER COVERING THE WEST BOUND LANES OF 170.

0245 PM     FLASH FLOOD      KEATS                   39.22N 96.71W
06/16/2010                   RILEY              KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            FT. RILEY BLVD ANDS WILDCAT CREEK NEAR MHK AIRPORT CLOSED
            AND ANDERSON AVE NEAR KEATS DUE TO WATER RUNNING OVER
            ROAD.

0300 PM     FLASH FLOOD      10 NW WAMEGO            39.30N 96.44W
06/16/2010                   POTTAWATOMIE       KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            FLUSH ROAD CLOSED DUE TO FLASH FLOODING OF HOPKINS CREEK
            FLOWING OVER THE ROAD AROUND 8 INCHES DEEP.

0300 PM     FLASH FLOOD      2 N BELVUE              39.25N 96.18W
06/16/2010                   POTTAWATOMIE       KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            ONAGA ROAD CLOSED DUE TO FLOOD WATERS ABOUT 8 TO 18
            INCHES DEEP FLOWING OVER ROAD. ALSO ONAGA ROAD IS ALSO
            CLOSED 6-7 MILES NORTH OF BELVUE, AND 4 MILES SOUTH OF
            ONAGA WITH WATER FLOWING OVER THE ROADWAY.

0330 PM     TSTM WND DMG     WSW WILLARD             39.09N 95.94W
06/16/2010                   WABAUNSEE          KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            3 INCH WALNUT LIMBS REPORTED DOWN

0355 PM     TSTM WND GST     5 WSW TOPEKA            39.02N 95.76W
06/16/2010  E55.00 MPH       SHAWNEE            KS   BROADCAST MEDIA

            WINDS ESTIMATED AT 50 TO 60 MPH.

0400 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 S TOPEKA              39.03N 95.68W
06/16/2010                   SHAWNEE            KS   BROADCAST MEDIA

            TREE BRANCHES DOWN ON POWER LINES. TIME APPROXIMATED
            BASED ON RADAR DATA.

0412 PM     TSTM WND GST     TOPEKA                  39.05N 95.68W
06/16/2010  M62.00 MPH       SHAWNEE            KS   ASOS

            MEASURED AT BILLARD ARPT

0413 PM     FLASH FLOOD      1 W MANHATTAN           39.18N 96.59W
06/16/2010                   RILEY              KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            RILEY COUNTY EM REPORTES PHOENIX DRIVE AND HIGHLAND RIDGE

            ROAD NEAR ANDERSON HAVE BEEN CLOSED DUE TO WATER RUNNING
            OVER THE ROAD FROM WILDCAT CREEK RISING OUT OF ITS BANKS.

0414 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 ENE TOPEKA            39.06N 95.63W
06/16/2010                   SHAWNEE            KS   BROADCAST MEDIA

            LARGE TREE BLOWN DOWN IN THE 400 BLOCK OF STRAIT AVENUE.

0415 PM     FLASH FLOOD      5 SW WAKEFIELD          39.16N 97.07W
06/16/2010                   CLAY               KS   PUBLIC

            NUMEROUS COUNTY ROADS WERE FLOODED DUE TO MEASURED
            RAINFALL OF 2.30 INCHES IN APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 40
            MINUTES.

0415 PM     TSTM WND DMG     TOPEKA                  39.05N 95.68W
06/16/2010                   SHAWNEE            KS   NWS EMPLOYEE

            8 INCH TREE REPORTED DOWN ON SARDOU RD.

0415 PM     HEAVY RAIN       E DELIA                 39.24N 95.96W
06/16/2010  M1.30 INCH       JACKSON            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            RAINFALL IN THE PAST HOUR.

0415 PM     TSTM WND GST     MELVERN                 38.51N 95.64W
06/16/2010  E60.00 MPH       OSAGE              KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TIME ESTIMATED BY SPOTTER AND CONFIRMED BY RADAR.

0429 PM     FLASH FLOOD      1 S ALMA                39.00N 96.29W
06/16/2010                   WABAUNSEE          KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            99HWY NAR MILE MARKER 156 CLOSED DUE TO WATER RUNNING
            OVER ROAD.

0435 PM     TSTM WND GST     4 E CARBONDALE          38.82N 95.61W
06/16/2010  E65.00 MPH       OSAGE              KS   NWS EMPLOYEE

0435 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ESE GRANTVILLE          39.08N 95.55W
06/16/2010                   JEFFERSON          KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            2 FOOT DIAMETER TREE BLOWN DOWN.

0436 PM     FLASH FLOOD      TOPEKA                  39.05N 95.68W
06/16/2010                   SHAWNEE            KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            EM REPORTS CARS DRIVING THROUGH FLOODED STREETS RESULTING
            IN WATER RESCUES. 6TH AND TYLER.

0436 PM     HEAVY RAIN       WILLARD                 39.09N 95.94W
06/16/2010  M2.25 INCH       SHAWNEE            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MEASURED RAINFALL TOTAL FOR THE PAST HOUR.

0440 PM     TSTM WND GST     HARRIS                  38.32N 95.44W
06/16/2010  E60.00 MPH       ANDERSON           KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            DIME SIZE HAIL WAS ALSO REPORTED IN HARRIS.

0457 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     1 SE EMPORIA            38.40N 96.17W
06/16/2010                   LYON               KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            FUNNEL CLOUD WITH STRONG ROTATION EXTENDED ALMOST HALF
            WAY TO THE GROUND BEFORE DISSIPATING.

0501 PM     TSTM WND GST     4 SSE EMPORIA           38.36N 96.15W
06/16/2010  E60.00 MPH       LYON               KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

0501 PM     HEAVY RAIN       3 ESE TOPEKA            39.03N 95.63W
06/16/2010  M2.38 INCH       SHAWNEE            KS   NWS EMPLOYEE

            RAINFALL TOTAL BETWEEN 4PM AND 5PM

0505 PM     TSTM WND DMG     LAWRENCE                38.97N 95.24W
06/16/2010                   DOUGLAS            KS   PUBLIC

            LARGE TREE LIMB DOWN AT 1700 ILLINOIS. TIME OF EVENT
            APPROXIMATED.

0507 PM     FLASH FLOOD      LAWRENCE                38.97N 95.24W
06/16/2010                   DOUGLAS            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER REPORTS WATER 2-3 INCHES DEEP OVER 6TH STREET
            BETWEEN IOWA AND CONGESSIONAL STREETS.

0511 PM     TSTM WND GST     4 NE LAWRENCE           39.01N 95.21W
06/16/2010  M58.00 MPH       DOUGLAS            KS   ASOS

            MEASURED AT ASOS

0515 PM     TSTM WND DMG     LAWRENCE                38.97N 95.24W
06/16/2010                   DOUGLAS            KS   BROADCAST MEDIA

            POWER LINES REPORTED DOWN IN SEVERAL PLACES IN LAWRENCE

0517 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 NW LAWRENCE           38.98N 95.25W
06/16/2010  M68.00 MPH       DOUGLAS            KS   PUBLIC

            PUBLIC REPORT OF A PEAK MEASURED WIND GUST OF 68 MPH.

0518 PM     HEAVY RAIN       2 W LAWRENCE            38.97N 95.27W
06/16/2010  M0.98 INCH       DOUGLAS            KS   NWS EMPLOYEE

            OFF DUTY NWS EMPLOYEE REPORTS 0.98 INCHES OF RAIN IN 15
            MINUTES.

0521 PM     FLASH FLOOD      LAWRENCE                38.97N 95.24W
06/16/2010                   DOUGLAS            KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            EM REPORTS FLOODING ON 23RD AND OUSDAHL RD, KEGENDS DR.
            TO BOB BILLINGS PKWY ON WAKARUSA, CONGESSIONAL TO
            WAKARUSA ON 6TH STEET.

0525 PM     FLASH FLOOD      TOPEKA                  39.05N 95.68W
06/16/2010                   SHAWNEE            KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            SHAWNEE EM REPORTS SHUNGA CREEK OUT OF ITS BANKS AND
            FLOODING SHUNGA PARK.

0540 PM     HEAVY RAIN       TOPEKA                  39.05N 95.68W
06/16/2010  M2.78 INCH       SHAWNEE            KS   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

0540 PM     FLASH FLOOD      2 E TOPEKA              39.05N 95.64W
06/16/2010                   SHAWNEE            KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            EM REPORTS TRAFFIC BEING DIVERTED DUE TO FLOODING OVER
            2ND STREET DUE TO TECUMSEH CREEK EXCEEDING ITS BANKS.

0545 PM     FLASH FLOOD      1 S LAWRENCE            38.96N 95.24W
06/16/2010                   DOUGLAS            KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            WATER RESCUES AT 23RD AND OUSDAHL AS WELL AS 31ST AND
            IOWA IN LAWRENCE.

0605 PM     FLASH FLOOD      LAWRENCE                38.97N 95.24W
06/16/2010                   DOUGLAS            KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            DRIVER WAITING ON ROOF OF CAR FOR RESCUE AT 23RD AND
            IOWA...WITH ANOTHER DRIVER AWAITING RESCUE ON CAR ROOF AT
            WITNERBROOK AND JORDAN. A THIRD WATER RESCUE TAKING PLACE
            AT 1900 NAISMITH.

0605 PM     HEAVY RAIN       2 SW EUDORA             38.92N 95.12W
06/16/2010  M1.90 INCH       DOUGLAS            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STORM TOTAL RAINFALL BETWEEN APPROXIMATELY 4PM AND 6PM.

0615 PM     FLASH FLOOD      WILLIAMSTOWN            39.06N 95.33W
06/16/2010                   JEFFERSON          KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            3RD AND 5TH STREETS ARE IMPASSABLE.

0630 PM     HEAVY RAIN       RICHMOND                38.40N 95.25W
06/16/2010  M2.00 INCH       FRANKLIN           KS   PUBLIC

0630 PM     FLASH FLOOD      PRINCETON               38.49N 95.28W
06/16/2010                   FRANKLIN           KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            FLASH FLOODING IN THE GENERAL PRINCETON AREA.

0632 PM     HEAVY RAIN       ST. MARYS               39.19N 96.07W
06/16/2010  M2.45 INCH       POTTAWATOMIE       KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            2.45 INCHES OF RAIN FELL THIS AFTERNOON

0702 PM     HEAVY RAIN       TOPEKA                  39.05N 95.68W
06/16/2010  M3.09 INCH       SHAWNEE            KS   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            MEASURED IN 8 INCH RAIN GAUGE AT BILLARD ARPT.

0702 PM     HEAVY RAIN       LAWRENCE                38.97N 95.24W
06/16/2010  M2.34 INCH       DOUGLAS            KS   ASOS

0745 PM     FLASH FLOOD      LAWRENCE                38.97N 95.24W
06/16/2010                   DOUGLAS            KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            CREEKS AND STREAMS REMAIN OUT OF THEIR
            BANKS...PARTICULARLY IN RURAL AREAS OF DOUGLAS COUNTY.