Torrential storms cause flooding in KC, and more rain is possible
The heavy thunderstorms that rolled through the Kansas City area early Monday probably ended the chance for severe storms later in the day.
A small band of thunderstorms was moving through the Kansas City area about 11 a.m., but it was weakening and was expected to end quickly, said Spencer Mell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill, Mo.
The torrential morning storms caused flash flooding and produced frequent lightning and loud thunder.
The National Weather Service reported that heavy rain fell across the southern portion of the Kansas City area, from Basehor to Kansas City to Independence. Some areas picked up as much as 4 inches of rain.
More storms were likely to develop Monday afternoon, bringing scattered showers just in time for Monday evening’s rush hour. The storms, however, weren’t expected to be like the morning storms.
“Right now we are thinking this early morning’s activity really kind of put the kibosh on any severe thunderstorm activity this afternoon,” Mell said. “I just don’t think we will get unstable enough across the area for those severe type storms to develop.”
A few stronger storms, however, could pop up with gustier winds and small hail.
The afternoon rains also won’t be as heavy as Monday morning.
“I think we’ve seen the worst of it,” Mell said. “The storms that are going to come in are probably going to be more scattered in nature versus a whole complex of storms. The rainfall rates of those storms won’t be as high as we have seen this morning.”
Some areas of heavier rains could cause additional localized flooding, but the heavier rains are not expected to be widespread enough to cause major flooding issues, Mell said.
The silver lining to these storm clouds is that Kansas City will get a break from the oppressive heat it experienced last week and over the weekend.
Temperatures on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are expected to reach only the low to middle 80s. The overnight lows will be in the middle to upper 60s.
“There will be a little bit more comfortable sleeping weather out there,” Mell said.
To reach Robert A. Cronkleton, call 816-234-4261 or send email to bcronkleton@kcstar.com.
This story was originally published July 20, 2015 at 8:08 AM with the headline "Torrential storms cause flooding in KC, and more rain is possible."