Flood watch issued for Kansas City. What could happen if storms stall over area?
An extended period of torrential downpours is expected in the Kansas City area as multiple rounds of storms creep across the region Thursday, bringing the threat of flooding, according to the National Weather Service.
Non-severe showers and thunderstorms have already developed this morning north of a cold front that has moved into northwest Missouri, according to the weather service.
These storms, which are expected to weaken after sunrise, are affecting southeast Nebraska, northeast Kansas and northern Missouri and are expected to remain north of Interstate 70. Pockets of heavy rainfall will be possible with the storms.
Temperatures are expected to climb to around 91 degrees, with the heat index reaching around 99 degrees.
Slow-moving storms could bring heavy rains and flooding
Attention then shifts to the potential for waves of downpours across the region Thursday night into early Saturday morning.
“Heavy prolonged rainfall is expected with flooding possible,” the weather service said. “Some uncertainties remain with where the heaviest rainfall will set up.”
The position of the front will be important as to where the storms develop in the afternoon. Although forecast models differ, the weather service expected the boundary to be near a line from the Kansas City area to Kirksville.
The slow-moving front might stall, allowing thunderstorms to persist over the same area, one after another, much like train cars moving down a track. Areas north of Interstate 70 appear to be at the highest risk of experiencing excessive rainfall.
The timing of the storms will be late afternoon Thursday through Friday morning, with the heaviest potential occurring overnight.
Between 2 and 4 inches of rain is expected across the region, with pockets of 4 to 7 inches possible in some locations, according to the weather service’s forecast discussion.
A flood watch is in effect from Thursday afternoon into Friday morning for the Kansas City area, including Johnson, Leavenworth, Miami, and Wyandotte counties in Kansas, as well as Cass, Clay, Clinton, Jackson, Johnson, Platte, and Ray counties in Missouri.
“Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations,” the weather service said. “Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas.”
The weather service advises people not to drive around barricades or through flooded roadways. Instead, they encourage drivers to turn around and delay travel until conditions improve.
The flooding rain is expected to wane on Friday, allowing the cold front to lift north. Storms are expected to redevelop along the front Friday night into early Saturday across northern Missouri. With the likelihood of rounds of heavy rains over the next two days, the weather service has extended the flood watch for north Missouri into Friday evening.
Hot, humid weather returns for the weekend
Sunny, clear skies are expected to return for the weekend, allowing temperatures to rebound.
Temperatures are expected to be in the low 90s on Saturday, the mid-90s on Sunday and near 100 degrees on Monday and Tuesday. Heat index values are expected to reach near 100 degrees over the weekend and near 105 degrees to start the week.
The weather is also expected to remain dry, with a slight chance of storms returning on Tuesday evening.
This story was originally published July 24, 2025 at 8:00 AM.
