Weather
Kansas-Missouri Flood Watch: Up to 4 Inches Oct. 13-14
Wichita, KS – Flood watches have been issued across 29 counties in Kansas and Missouri as thunderstorms capable of producing intense rainfall move into the region Tuesday, Oct. 13, threatening flooded
By Tessa Morgan · 2026-10-13T11:29:13.425Z
Wichita, KS – Flood watches have been issued across 29 counties in Kansas and Missouri as thunderstorms capable of producing intense rainfall move into the region Tuesday, Oct. 13, threatening flooded roads, rising streams and dangerous travel conditions through Wednesday morning, Oct. 14.
According to the National Weather Service, offices in Wichita, Topeka, Kansas City/Pleasant Hill and Springfield have issued flood watches covering portions of central, eastern and southeastern Kansas and western Missouri.
The watches begin at different times Tuesday afternoon and evening, with all currently scheduled to expire at 10 a.m. CDT Wednesday.
In Kansas, affected communities include Wichita, Hutchinson, Newton, El Dorado, Topeka, Lawrence, Emporia, Ottawa, McPherson and Fort Scott.
Missouri communities under flood watches include Harrisonville, Warrensburg, Sedalia, Clinton, Nevada, Warsaw and Versailles.
The Springfield Weather Service office forecasts rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches in portions of southeast Kansas and western Missouri, including Bourbon, Benton, Morgan, St. Clair and Vernon counties.
Meanwhile, forecasters in Topeka warn that thunderstorms could produce rainfall rates near 2 inches per hour as storms develop in a moisture rich atmosphere Tuesday evening.
The Wichita office expects scattered to numerous thunderstorms to move east and northeast, potentially bringing repeated heavy rainfall to the same communities.
Excessive runoff could cause localized flooding of streets, underpasses, creeks, streams and other low lying locations.
The Topeka office also indicated that flood watches may need to be extended into Thursday, Oct. 15, if additional rounds of heavy rainfall become likely.
Residents should avoid driving through flooded roadways and remain alert for rapidly changing conditions overnight.
A flood watch means flooding is possible, not that flooding is already occurring.
The National Weather Service urges residents in flood prone areas to monitor updated forecasts and prepare to act if flood warnings are issued.