Article Type:
Research Article

The Kansas City Flash Flood of 12 September 1977

John E. Hales Jr. National Severe Storms Forecast Center, NWS/NOAA, Kansas City, Mo. 64106

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Online Publication:
01 Jun 1978
Print Publication:
01 Jun 1978
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0477-59.6.706
Page(s):
706–710
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On 12 September 1977, severe flash flooding in Kansas City, Mo., resulted in widespread damage and 25 fatalities. It was the worst flash flood of modern times in this area in terms of loss of life and damage. Meteorological analysis of the flood situation indicates the key ingredients for the unprecedented flooding were: 1) two heavy convective rain events occurring in essentially the same location within a 20 h period, and 2) the formation by the first storm system of a small-scale surface boundary wave that concentrated the low-level convergence over the Kansas City area for an extended period of time preceding the second event. Total rainfall amounts for the 24 h storm period were >16 inches (40 cm). Rainfall rates were as high as 8 inches (20 cm) in 4 h during the flooding on the evening of the 12th. Besides the conventional surface and upper air observational network, radar and satellite input were of significant value in analyzing the storm evolution.

On 12 September 1977, severe flash flooding in Kansas City, Mo., resulted in widespread damage and 25 fatalities. It was the worst flash flood of modern times in this area in terms of loss of life and damage. Meteorological analysis of the flood situation indicates the key ingredients for the unprecedented flooding were: 1) two heavy convective rain events occurring in essentially the same location within a 20 h period, and 2) the formation by the first storm system of a small-scale surface boundary wave that concentrated the low-level convergence over the Kansas City area for an extended period of time preceding the second event. Total rainfall amounts for the 24 h storm period were >16 inches (40 cm). Rainfall rates were as high as 8 inches (20 cm) in 4 h during the flooding on the evening of the 12th. Besides the conventional surface and upper air observational network, radar and satellite input were of significant value in analyzing the storm evolution.

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