Kansas City faces multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms through Thursday night, bringing heavy rainfall and a flood watch for portions of northeast Kansas and northern Missouri, kansascity.com reported. Precipitation totals could reach up to 3 inches in areas south of the Missouri River before drier, fall-like weather arrives for the weekend.
Why is Kansas City experiencing heavy rainfall and flood risks?
A cold front sinking across the region is driving multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms through Thursday night, according to the National Weather Service.
The heaviest precipitation axis has trended further south, which may help mitigate flooding across northeast Kansas and northern Missouri. Those areas already received 1.5 to 4 inches of rain since Tuesday. However, the weather service warns that another 0.5 to 1.5 inches of rain could trigger flash flooding in those saturated zones.
Which areas face the highest threat of severe weather?
The heaviest rain is expected to fall generally south and east of Interstate 35, including a large portion of the Kansas City metropolitan area. The weather service forecast discussion notes that widespread totals of 1 to 3 inches will accumulate along and south of the Missouri River, with locally higher amounts possible.
Several rivers, creeks, and streams are already rising or sitting in minor to moderate flood stages. A flood watch remains active for portions of northeast Kansas and northern Missouri until late Thursday.
How will temperatures shift as the storms clear?
Temperatures will stay on the cooler side while the front moves through, ranging from the upper 60s to the mid-70s. The metro area is expected to reach a high of around 72 degrees, sitting just below the early October average high of 74 degrees.
Rain chances will taper off Thursday night as the weather system clears out by Friday morning, according to the weather service. Fall-like temperatures will hover near 65 degrees on Friday, 69 degrees on Saturday, and 73 degrees on Sunday under sunny skies, before a warming trend pushes temperatures toward 77 degrees by next Wednesday.
What does the weekend forecast look like according to forecasters?
Meteorologists predict around a quarter of an inch of rain on Saturday, though higher totals could materialize inside thunderstorms.
Clouds will eventually clear for a partly sunny Sunday with a high near 78 degrees and light winds around 5 mph.
What are the key weather details to know?
- Active Alerts: A flood watch remains in effect for northeast Kansas and northern Missouri until late Thursday.
- Rainfall Totals: Widespread amounts of 1 to 3 inches are forecast along and south of the Missouri River, with up to 1.5 additional inches possible in saturated northern zones.
- Temperature Trend: Highs will sit near 72 degrees in the metro on Thursday before dropping to 65 degrees on Friday and climbing back toward 77 degrees by the middle of next week.
When will the flood watch expire?
When will the current flood watch expire?
The National Weather Service flood watch for portions of northeast Kansas and northern Missouri remains in effect until late Thursday.
How much rain has already fallen in northeast Kansas and northern Missouri?
Northeast Kansas and northern Missouri received 1.5 to 4 inches of rain starting Tuesday, prompting ongoing flood concerns as additional storms move through.
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