KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – Northern Missouri faces a high flood risk this weekend as rounds of slow-moving thunderstorms could deliver up to 8 inches of rain between Saturday and Sunday. The National Weather Service warns that the most intense rainfall will target counties along and north of U.S. Route 36, with flooding possible in both towns and rural areas.
According to the NWS Weather Prediction Center, storms will develop Saturday afternoon and persist through Sunday morning, producing rainfall rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour. Widespread totals of 4 to 6 inches are expected, while localized pockets from Maryville and Trenton to Kirksville and Macon could approach 8 inches before the system shifts east.
With soils already saturated, even moderate rain could quickly lead to flash flooding. Smaller rivers and creeks, including the Grand, Chariton, and Platte, may rise rapidly. Low-lying farmland, rural gravel roads, and urban intersections could see fast-developing high water.
Travel hazards are likely, especially on U.S. Route 63, Interstate 35, and Missouri Route 6, where water over roadways may force closures. Emergency managers urge residents to avoid flooded roads, keep devices charged, and have an evacuation plan in place for flood-prone areas.
The heaviest rain will fall late Saturday through early Sunday, with gradual improvement by Sunday night. However, forecasters caution that elevated river levels could linger into next week if more rain develops over northern Missouri.
