What to expect this Memorial Day weekend in KC as heaviest rains shift south
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- Heaviest Memorial Day weekend rainfall shifts south of Kansas City per forecast updates.
- Isolated storms with hail and wind may affect areas just south of the metro.
- Rainfall totals could reach 1.5 inches locally, with flooding risks further south.
Although a wet holiday weekend remains in the forecast for the Kansas City area, the threat of the heaviest rainfall has shifted to the south, according to the National Weather Service.
Showers and thunderstorms are expected to remain south of U.S. 50 Saturday morning, with “only an errant shower farther north, the weather service said in its forecast discussion.
There is expected to be a break in the rain in the afternoon. Cloudy skies will keep temperatures below average, climbing to around 69 degrees. Kansas City typically sees temperatures around 78 degrees this time of year.
Isolated strong to severe storms possible
Rain and thunderstorms are expected to redevelop Saturday night across southern Kansas into southern Missouri, bringing the chance for another round of heavy rain overnight into Sunday, the weather service said.
While the heaviest rainfall is expected to be south of the Kansas City forecast area, there is a marginal chance for isolated strong to severe storms just south of the metro area, the weather service said. The main risk from the stronger storms will be hail and damaging winds.
There is a potential for multiple thunderstorms to move over the same area one after another, like train cars on a track, leading to heavy rainfall in a short period and increasing the risk of flooding in that area, the weather service said.
A flood watch has been issued for Linn County in Kansas and Bates and Henry counties in Missouri.
Additional rounds of rain are likely
Showers and thunderstorms might continue into the daylight on Sunday, the weather service said. The rain and clouds will result in even cooler temperatures. The metro should see temperatures climb to around 62 degrees.
The wet and stormy weather pattern will persist into Memorial Day, with temperatures a degree or two colder.
The weather service forecasts that between one and 1.5 inches of rain will fall in the Kansas City metro between Saturday and Tuesday morning. Less than an inch of rain is expected north of the metro, while areas to the south could see two to three inches of rain.
Areas south of the Kansas City forecast area are expected to see even higher amounts.
“River flooding is possible, especially for rivers already experiencing elevated flow,” the weather service said. “Stay weather aware with outdoor activities along or near lakes, streams, or rivers this holiday weekend.”
