Severe Storms Bring Flash Flooding, Golf Ball Hail to Southwest Missouri
Golf ball size hail, 60 mph winds, and up to 5 inches of rain struck dozens of southwest Missouri communities Thursday night, triggering simultaneous severe storm and flash flood warnings.
SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI — Severe thunderstorms moved through southwest Missouri on the evening of June 25, prompting the National Weather Service in Springfield to issue both a Flash Flood Warning and a Severe Thunderstorm Warning as heavy rain, large hail, and damaging winds affected many communities across the region.
Flash Flooding Reported Across Wide Area
The Flash Flood Warning was issued at 9:52 PM CDT and remained in effect until 11:15 PM CDT, according to the National Weather Service Springfield office. Emergency management officials reported active flooding across the warned area, with between 2 and 5 inches of rain already on the ground by the time the alert was issued.
Flash flooding impacted small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets, underpasses, and other low-lying and poorly drained locations. Communities affected included Northwestern Springfield, Bolivar, Buffalo, Greenfield, Willard, Ash Grove, Fair Grove, Walnut Grove, Pleasant Hope, Morrisville, Everton, Brookline, Dadeville, Halfway, Halltown, South Greenfield, Aldrich, Sacville, Cave Springs, Brighton, Eudora, Ebenezer, Glidewell, Bois D’arc, Foose, Olive, March, Pennsboro, and Stockton Lake.
Several specific low water crossings were identified as flood-prone locations, including Opposum Creek at Bannon Road, Sac River at County Road 1247, Turkey Creek at Highway W, Slagle Creek at 86 Road, Sinking Creek at County Road 181, and Clear Creek.
Severe Thunderstorm Threatens Joplin Area With Large Hail
Minutes before the flood warning was issued, the National Weather Service Springfield office issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning at 9:49 PM CDT, effective until 10:30 PM CDT. Radar indicated a severe thunderstorm near Galena and near Joplin, moving southeast at 25 mph.
The storm carried golf ball size hail and wind gusts up to 60 mph, according to the National Weather Service. Officials warned that people and animals outdoors faced injury risk, and that hail could damage roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles, while wind posed a threat to roofs, siding, and trees.
Communities in the path of the severe thunderstorm included Joplin, Carthage, Webb City, Carl Junction, Galena, Oronogo, Carterville, Duquesne, Duenweg, Diamond, Loma Linda, Airport Drive, Leawood, Silver Creek, Shoal Creek Drive, Saginaw, Fidelity, Redings Mill, Grand Falls Plaza, and Brooklyn Heights. The warning also covered Interstate 44 between mile markers 0 and 26.
Residents Urged to Avoid Flooded Roads
Both warnings were issued by the National Weather Service office in Springfield, which serves southwest Missouri. The flash flooding was confirmed by emergency management reports on the ground, not solely from radar data, indicating conditions were actively dangerous at the time of the alert.
Authorities consistently warn residents that flooded roadways and low water crossings pose extreme danger, and that most flood-related fatalities occur when drivers attempt to cross water-covered roads. Residents in the affected communities were urged to avoid travel in flooded areas and to move to higher ground if threatened by rising water.
