Flood Watch Covers Wide Swath of Missouri and Kansas Through Sunday
A Flood Watch issued Saturday night covers more than 40 counties across Missouri and Kansas, with heavy rainfall and thunderstorms threatening rivers, streams, and urban areas through Sunday evening.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI — The National Weather Service office in Kansas City/Pleasant Hill issued a Flood Watch on June 20 at 8:17 p.m. CDT covering dozens of counties across Missouri and Kansas, with the alert running through Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m. CDT.
Forecasters warn that excessive rainfall combined with a tropical airmass and expected thunderstorm development could produce high rain rates capable of triggering flooding across a large region of the central United States.
Areas Under the Watch
The watch covers portions of both states, spanning a wide geographic area. In Kansas, the following counties are included: Atchison, Doniphan, Johnson, Leavenworth, Linn, Miami, and Wyandotte.
In Missouri, the watch extends across a much larger area, covering Adair, Andrew, Atchison, Bates, Buchanan, Caldwell, Carroll, Cass, Chariton, Clay, Clinton, Cooper, Daviess, De Kalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Henry, Holt, Howard, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Mercer, Nodaway, Pettis, Platte, Putnam, Randolph, Ray, Saline, Schuyler, Sullivan, and Worth counties.
What Forecasters Are Warning About
According to the National Weather Service, a tropical airmass moving into the region will combine with developing thunderstorms to produce elevated rainfall rates. Those conditions make flooding possible across a broad range of terrain and land uses.
The NWS said excessive runoff may cause flooding along rivers, creeks, and streams, as well as in low-lying and flood-prone locations. Urban areas and zones with poor drainage systems also face elevated risk.
What Residents Should Know
A Flood Watch means that conditions are favorable for flooding, but flooding is not yet occurring or imminent. Residents in the affected counties should monitor conditions closely and be prepared to act quickly if a Flood Warning is issued.
The National Weather Service urged the public to avoid flood-prone areas and never attempt to drive through flooded roadways. Additional flood safety information is available at weather.gov/safety/flood.
The watch remains in effect through 7:00 p.m. CDT on Sunday, June 21, 2026. Residents should check the National Weather Service Kansas City/Pleasant Hill office for updated forecasts and any changes to watch or warning status.
