Under the bullseye: Potentially dangerous rainfall, flooding targets Kansas City
Dangerous torrential downpours and flash flooding will be possible overnight Thursday as thunderstorms crawl through the Kansas City area, according to the National Weather Service.
There is an increasing potential for a heavy rainfall and flooding event across a good swath of the region, said Jonathan Kurtz, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Kansas City, in a video weather briefing on its YouTube channel.
An area of thunderstorms is expected to develop between late afternoon and early evening across parts of eastern Kansas into western Missouri. The heaviest rainfall is likely to develop between 5 and 7 p.m. and continue overnight.
The National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center increased the metro area’s risk of excessive rainfall from a slight to a moderate. The Weather Prediction Center uses four categories — marginal, slight, moderate, and high — to indicate the likelihood of heavy rain causing flash flooding.
The area under moderate risk stretches from Topeka through the Kansas City metro area to Macon in north-central Missouri.
“We’re expecting widespread amounts anywhere from 1 to 4 inches possible, and local higher amounts closer to 7 inches and likely in excess of 7 inches in some places,” Kurtz said. “The latest model trends have us a little bit concerned about portions of the metro being under the bullseye for those heavier amounts.”
A flash flood watch remains in effect through Friday morning for portions of Kansas and Missouri, including Johnson, Leavenworth, Miami, Wyandotte, Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte and Ray counties in the metro area.
“Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop,” the weather service said in its flood watch.
People were encouraged to keep an eye on the weather overnight. When alerted to a flash flood, people should seek higher ground immediately.
The weather service also advised people to never enter flood waters in a vehicle or on foot.
