FLOODS IN KANSAS CITY, 

MISSOURI AND KANSAS, 

SEPTEMBER 12-13, 1977 

Report prepared jointly by the U.S. Geological Survey 

and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1169 

FLOODS IN KANSAS CITY, 

MISSOURI AND KANSAS, 

SEPTEMBER 12-13, 1977 

By LELAND D. HAUTH and WILLIAM J. CARSWELL, JR., U.S. Geological Survey, 

and EDWIN H. CHIN, National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER P1169 

Report prepared jointly by the U.S. Geological Survey 

and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON 1981 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT 

OF THE INTERIOR 

JAMES G. WATT, Secretary 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Doyle G. Frederick, Acting Director 

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data 

Hauth, Leland D 

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT 

OF COMMERCE 

MALCOLM BALDRIGE, Secretary 

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND 

ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION 

James P. Walsh, Acting Director 

Floods in Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas, September 12-13, 1977. 

(Geological Survey professional paper; 1169) 

"Report prepared jointly by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Oceanic ond Atmospheric Administration." 

Bibliography: p. 

Supt. of Docs. no.: I 19.16:1169 

1. Kansas City metropolitan area-Flood, 1977. I. Carswell, William J., joint author. II. Chin, Edwin H., joint 

author. III. United States. Geological Survey. IV. United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-· 

ministration. V. Title. VI. Series: United States. Geological Survey. Professional paper; 1169. 

GB1399.4.M8H38 551.48'9'09778411 80-607048 

For sale by Distribution Branch, Text Products Section, 

U.S. Geological Survey, 604 South Pickett Street, Alexandria, Va 22304 
CONTENTS 

Page 

Glossary ------------------------------------------------------- ____________ IV 

Conversion of inch-pound units to International System of units (SI) ____________ V 

Abstract ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 

Introduction --------------------------------------------------------------- 1 

Purpose and scope ----------------------------------------------------- 1 

Acknowledgments ------------------------------------------------------- 2 

Description of the flood area ------------------------------------------------ 2 

Meteorological setting and precipitation distribution _______________ ____________ 2 

Precipitation estimations using satellite infrared imagery ______ ____________ 15 

Description and measurement of floods --------------------------------------- 20 

Flood damages --------------------------------------------------------- 20 

Flood hydrographs ----------------------------------------------------- 24 

Flood-crest profiles and inundated areas --------------------------------- 24 

Measurement of flood discharges ----------------------------- ____________ 25 

General sediment deposition ---------------------------------- ____________ 25 

Magnitude and frequency of floods -------------------------------------------- 37 

Flood volumes ---------------------------------------------------------- 37 

Comparative magnitude of floods ------------------------------ ____________ 37 

Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------ 37 

References cited ------------------------------------------------------------- 47 

ILLUSTRATIONS 

Page 

FIGURE 1. Map showing location of area of flooding in Missouri and Kansas -------------------- 2 

2. Map showing flood area and location of flood-determination points ------------------- 3 

3. Maps for 0600 c.s.t., Sept. 12, 1977, showing: 

surface analysis, 700-mb analysis, and 500-mb analysis --------------------------- 4 

4. Rawinsonde profiles at Topeka,. Kans., 0600 and 1800 c.s.t., Sept. 12, 1977 ------------ 7 

5. Graph showing temperature, dew point,and pressure at Kansas City International 

Airport on Sept. 12, 1977. Wind speeds and directions near 6 p.m. are shown ______ 9 

6. Schematic showing surface fronts, moist tongue, and 500mb jet, 1800 c.s.t., 

Sept. 12, 1977 ---------------------------------------------------------------- 10 

7. Isohyetal map, storm of Sept. 12-13, 1977, Kansas City and vicinity ----------------- 11 

8. Isohyetal map of total rainfall for Sept. 11-13, 1977, in southeastern Nebraska, 

northeastern Kansas, and north-central Missouri -------------------------------- 13 

9. Mass rainfall curves at four selected raingages Sept. 11-14, 1977 -------------------- 14 

10. Depth-area analysis for 36-hour duration for storm precipitation, and composite rainfall 

mass curve derived from satellite infrared imagery, Sept. 12-13, 1977, and composite 

rainfall mass curve derived from satellite infrared imagery, Sept. 11-13, 1977 _____ 15 

11. GOES infrared imagery for first and second storms -------------------------------- 18 

12-16. Photographs showing: 

12. Brush Creek, after flood crest, looking north on J. C. Nichols Parkway at Ward 

Parkway, at Country Club Plaza, Kansas City, Mo -------------------- 20 

13. Brush Creek, after flood crest, looking east along Ward Parkway, at Wornall 

Road at Country Club Plaza, Kansas City, Mo ------------------------- 21 

14. United States Post Office, after Brush Creek flood crest, on Ward Parkway at 

Country Club Plaza, Kansas City, Mo -------------------------------- 22 

15. View of 600 block of West 48th Street, after Brush Creek flood crest, at 

Country Club Plaza, Kansas City, Mo -------------------------------- 23 

16. Aerial view after flood crest, looking west along Blue River between 23rd Street 

and Truman Road, Kansas City, Mo ----------------------------------- 24 

m 
IV CONTENTS 

FIGURES 17-29. Discharge hydrographs at U.S. Geological Survey gaging station, for flood of Sept. 

12-13, 1977, at: 

Paae 

17. Line Creek at Riverside, Mo ___________________________________________ :____ 25 

18. Blue River near Stanley, Kans ------------------------------------------- 26 

19. Indian Creek at Overland Park, Kans ------------------------------------- 28 

20. Tomahawk Creek at Overland Park, Kans --------------------------------- 28 

21. Blue River near Kansas City Mo ----------------------------------------- 29 

22. Brush Creek at Main Street, Kansas City, Mo ----------------------------- 29 

23. Round Grove Creek at Raytown, Mo -------------------------------------- 30 

24. Rock Creek at Independence, Mo ----------------------------------------- 30 

25. Shoal Creek at Claycomo, M'J -------------------------------------------- 31 

26. Little Blue River below Longview Road Damsite in Kansas City, Mo ________ 31 

27. East Fork Little Blue River near Blue Springs, Mo ________________________ 32 

28. Little Blue River near Lake City, Mo -------------------------------~---- 32 

29. Sni-A-Bar Creek near Tarsney, Mo ---------------------------------------- 33 

30. Profiles of water surface of Blue River, floods of Sept. 12-13, 1977, and Sept. 1961 _______ 34 

31-34. Profile of water surface, flood of Sept. 12-13, 1977, of: 

31. Rock Creek (Kans.) ----------------------------------------------------- 36 

32. Brush Creek (Kans.) _____ ----------------------------------------------- 38 

33. Rock Creek (Mo.) -------------------------------------------------------- 40 

34. Little Blue River --------------------------------------------------------- 42 

35. Map showing boundary of Sept. 12-13, 1977, flood along Brush Creek between Main Street 

and Jefferson Street, Kansas City, Mo ---------------------------------------- 44 

36. Photograph showing recently deposited gravel and scattered coarse material· on left 

(north)Brush Creek flood plain arproximately 1,000 ft downstream from Woodland 

Avenue bridge, Kansas City, Mo -------------------------------------------- 45 

37. Photograph showing channel-bed slabs and car in Brush Creek stream channel immediately downstream from Rockhille Road bridge, Kansas City, Mo ----------------- 45 

38. Graph showing particle-size distribution of sediment deposits in Brush Creek in the 

vicinity of Woodland Avenue bridge in Kansas City, Mo -------------------------- 45 

39. Graph showing comparison of Sept. 12-13, 1977, peak discharges to upper limits of known 

floods in Missouri-Kansas area and in the United States ------------------------- 47 

TABLES 

Page 

TABLE 1. K index and 12-hour net vertical displacement at Kansas City vicinity, September 1977 ____________________ 7 

2. Supplementary rainfall data, storms, of Sept. 12-13, 1977, in northeastern Kansas, northwestern Missouri, 

and southeastern ~ebraska ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12 

3. Summary of peak stages and discharges for Kansas City area floods, Sept. 12-13, 1977 ____________________ 27 

4. Summary of flood volumes for Kansas City area floods of Sept. 12-13, 1977 -------------------------------- 41 

GLOSSARY 

Bed material. The sediment mixture of which the moving bed 

is composed. 

Continuous-record station. A site on a stream where continuous records of discharge are obtained. 

Cubic feet per second (ft3 /s). The rate of discharge; one 

ft3/s is the rate of discharge of a stream having a crosssectional area of 1 square foot and an average velocity of 

1 ft per second: 

1 ft3

/s = 0.646 million U.S. gallons per day, 

28.32 L/s or 0.02832 m3/s. 

Dew point (or dew point temperature). The temperature to 

which a given parcel of air must be cooled at constant 

pressure and constant water-vapor content in order for 

saturation to occur. 

Fine material. That part of the total stream sediment load 

composed of sizes not found in appreciable quantities· in 

the bed material; normally, the silt and clay sizes (less 

than 0.062 mm). 

Flood hydrograph. A graphical representation of a stream's 

fluctuation in flow (in cubic feet per second) arranged 

in chronological order. 

Flood peak. The highest value of the stage or discharge attained by a flood. 

Flood profile. A graph of the elevation of water surface of a 

river in a flood, plotted as ordinate, against distance, 

measured in the upstream direction, plotted as abscissa. 

Flood stage. The approximate elevation of the stream when 

overbank flooding begins. 
CONTENTS v 

Front. The interface or transition zone between two air 

masses of different density. 

Isohyetal map. A map showing lateral distribution of precipitation and drawn as contours- of equal rainfall depths. 

Jet stream. Relatively strong winds concentrated within a 

narrow stream in the atmosphere. 

Miscellaneous site. A site where data pertaining to a specific 

hydrologic event are obtained. 

Moist tongue. An extension or protrusion of moist air into a 

region of lower moisture content. 

N-year precipitation (rain). A precipitation amount which 

can be expected to occur, on the average, once every N 

years. 

Particle size. The diameter of a particle measured by settling, 

sieving, micrometric, or direct measurement methods. 

NGVD. National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929; a geodetic 

datum derived from a general adjustment of the firstorder level nets of both the United States and Canada. 

In the adjustments, sea levels from selected tide stations 

in both countries were held as fixed. 

Particle-size distribution. The relative amount of sediment 

sample having a specific size, usually in terms of percent 

by weight finer than a given size, D percent. 

Radiosonde. A miniature radio transmitter that is carried 

aloft (as by an unmanned balloon) with instruments for 

broadcasting humidity, temperature, and pressure. 

Rawinsonde. A radiosonde tracked by a radio direction-finding 

device to determine the winds aloft. 

Rainfall mass curve. A graph of the accumulated rainfall 

depth, plotted as an ordinate, against time or duration of 

storm, plotted as abscissa; the curve represents total 

precipitation depth throughout the storm. 

Recurrence interval. As applied to flood events, recurrence 

interval is the average number of years within which a 

given flood peak will be exceeded once. For example, a 

50-year flood discharge will be exceeded on the average 

of once in 50 years. In terms of probability, there is a 

2-percent chance that such a flood will occur in any year. 

Ridge. An elongated area of relatively high atmospheric pressure. 

Saturation.·The condition in which the partial pressure of 

water vapor is equal to its maximum possible partial 

pressure under the existing environmental conditions. 

Sediment. Solid particles usually derived from rocks or earth 

material that have been or are being transported laterally 

or vertically from one or more places of origin. 

Sounding. A single complete radiosonde observation of the 

upper atmosphere. 

Squall line. Any nonfrontal line or narrow band of active 

thunderstorms; a mature instability line. 

Total Total Index. A measure of air mass static stability, TT, 

given by: TT = Taso + Td,sso -2T500 

where T and Td are temperature and dew point, respectively, in degrees Celsius; and the subscripts denote pressure level in millibars. A Total Total Index exceeding 50 

is favorable to the occurrence of severe thunderstorms. 

Through. An elongated area of relatively low atmospheric 

pressure. 

Vapor pressure. The pressure exerted by the molecules of a 

given vapor; in meteorology, this term is used exclusively 

to denote the partial pressure of water vapor. 

CONVERSION OF INCH-POUND UNITS TO 

INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM OF UNITS (SI) 

Most units of measure used in this report are inch-pound units. The following 

factors may be used to convert inch-pound units to the International System of Units 

(SI). 

Multiply inch-pound units 

inches (in.) 

feet (ft) 

yards (yd) 

miles (mi) 

nautical miles (nmi) 

knots (kn) 

acres 

acres 

square miles (mi2 ) 

acre-feet ( acre-ft) 

acre-feet (acre-ft) 

cubic feet per second (f~/s) 

gallons (gal) 

degrees Fahrenheit ( °F) 

by 

25.4 

0.3048 

0.9144 

1.609 

1.85 

1.85 

4,047 

0.4047 

2.590 

1,233 

1.233 X lo-a 

0.02832 

3.785 X 10-a 

5/9 (~- 32) 

To obtain SI units 

millimeters (mm) 

meters (m) 

meters (m) 

kilometers (km) 

kilometers (km) 

kilometers per hour (km/h) 

square meters (m2

) 

hectares (ha) 

square kilometers (km2 ) 

cubic meters (m3 ) 

cubic hectometers (hm3 ) 

cubic meters per second (m3/s) 

cubic meters (m3 ) 

degrees Celsius ( °C) 

FLOODS IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI AND KANSAS, 

SEPTEMBER 12-13, 1977 

By LELAND D. HAUTH and WILLIAM J. CARSWELL, JR., U.S. Geological Survey, 

and EDWIN H. CHIN, National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

ABSTRACT 

The storms of Sept. 12-13, 1977, delivered as much as 16 

in. of rain, with average rainfall exceeding 10 in. in the 

Kansas City metropolitan area. Twenty-five lives were lost, 

many were left homeless, and damages exceeded $80 million. 

Data obtained by the National Weather Service and the 

U.S. Geological Survey indicate that two record-setting rainstorms occurred within 24 hours. The first storm, in the · 

early morning, thoroughly soaked the local drainage basins. 

The second storm, centered along the Brush and Round Grove 

Creek basins, resulted in a devastating flash flood. Peak discharges were determined during and after this major flood 

at gaging stations and selected miscellaneous locations. 

Streamflows and flood volumes in many locations far exceeded estimated values for the 100-year flood. 

INTRODUCTION 

Outstanding floods occurred on streams in the 

Kansas City, Mo.-Kans., area as a result of two separate rainfall events occurring 8-12 h apart, each of 

which exceeded the 100-year 24-h rainfall. A total of 

up to 16 in. of rain fell in some sections of the metropolitan area. The first storm saturated the ground 

and caused a greater part of the second rainfall to 

run off, resulting in peak discharges well in excess of 

the 100-year recurrence interval in some areas. 

These storms extended over parts of western Missouri, northeastern Kansas, and southeastern 

Nebraska. However, the heaviest rainfall was in 

Kansas City and vicinity. The metropolitan area received an average rainfall in excess of 10 in. for the 

two events. The heaviest rain fell east of the city, 

just south of Independence, Mo., and along Brush 

Creek to the south and west, including its headwater 

areas in Kansas. 

Peak discharges were computed for many locations 

by indirect methods, because the rapid rise and fall 

of the floodwaters did not permit real-time measurement with current meters. These computations were 

made after the flood from data that was obtained by 

carefully measuring high-water marks and the geometry of the hydraulic structures and channels. 

Twenty-five persons lost their lives and damages 

exceeded $80 million. Although many homes and 

businesses suffered losses throughout the storm area, 

the major economic damage occurred in the Brush 

Creek basin of Missouri and Kansas and within the 

lower Blue River basin downstream from the mouth 

of Brush Creek (see fig. 2). Upstream from the U.S. 

Geological Survey gaging station on Brush Creek, 

the Country Club Plaza received national attention 

because of extensive flood damages to its numerous 

shops. 

PURPOSE AND SCOPE 

This report is one of a continuing series of joint 

flood reports undertaken by the National Weather 

Service in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration of the Department of Commerce, and 

by the U.S. Geological Survey in the Department of 

the Interior. 

Data collected by the National Weather Service 

document the meteorological settings associated with 

the extreme precipitation and the distribution of 

rainfall. Materials presented in this report include 

related weather maps, atmospheric soundings, rainfall mass curves, and ishoyetal analyses. 

Streamflow data collected by the U.S. Geological 

Survey present surface runoff including rates of flow 

and total flood volume. These data include peak 

stages and discharges, discharge hydrographs, 

water-surface profiles of selected stream reaches, and 

flood volumes. Elevations are referred to National 

Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD). 

Compilation of all pertinent meteorological and 

hydrological analyses related to the flood in this one 

report is intended to provide convenient reference 

for hydraulic planning. Analysis of such outstanding 

1 
2 FLOODS IN KANSAS CITY, MO. AND KANS., SEPT. 12-13, 1977 

flood events can aid in promoting prudent development within any river basin where the threat of severe flooding exists. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

Elevations for water-surface profiles of Brush 

Creek, Rock Creek (Kans.), Blue River, and Little 

Blue River were provided by the U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers, Kansas City District. The Corps also provided personnel for field assistance. Photographs of 

the Plaza area were taken by Frederick Solberg, Jr., 

and William H. Batson, Kansas City Star photographers. 

DESCRIPTION OF THE FLOOD AREL\ 

This report encompasses the Kansas City metropolitan area and extends 15 mi eastward. This area 

comprises about 1,000 mP (fig. 1). The region most 

affected by the storm consisted of drainage basins of 

0 

~ 

% 

<a ~ 

the Blue River with Brush Creek as one of its tributaries, the Little Blue River, and Sni-A-Bar Creek, 

all emptying into the Missouri River within a 40-mi 

reach (fig. 2). 

Streamflows shown in this report reflect runoff 

from both urban and rural areas. The metropolitan 

area includes approximately 60 percent of the area 

shown in figures 1 and 2. The Brush Creek basin 

(main site of the Plaza area damage) is completely 

urbanized, while the Sni-A-Bar Creek basin is rural. 

The other drainage basins included in this report lie 

somewhere between these extremes, with only part 

of each basin being urbanized. 

METEOROLOGICAL SETTING AND 

PRECIPITATION DISTRIBUTION 

At 1800 c.s.t., Sept. 11, 1977, a weak Low was located over western Kansas. A warm front associated 

with the Low was about 300 mi southwest of Kansas 

94° 93° 

shoO\ 

0 

STUDY 

AREA 

Elm 

20 40 60 80 KILOMETERS 

FIGURE 1.-Location of area of flooding in Missouri and Kansas. 

Index map showing 

location of study area 
METEOROLOGICAL SETTING AND PRECIPITATION DISTRIBUTION 3 

KANSAS 

MISSOURI 

EXPLANATION 

• U S G S gaging station 

• Miscellaneous discharge 

measurement site 

Index map showing 

location of study area 

(Number corresponds to that 

in tables 3 and4) 

10 15 MILES 

FIGURE 2.-Flood area and location of flood-determination points. 

City. During that night, the wind field over the 

southern Great Plains was characterized by a lowlevel jet with strongest southwesterly winds impinging aloft on the sloping frontal surface south of the 

Kansas City area. Strong warm advection brought in 

warm moist air below the 700-mb level into eastern 

Kansas and western Missouri. By 0600 c.s.t., Sept. 

12, the warm advection had extended to the 500-mb 
4 FLOODS IN KANSAS CITY, MO. AND KANS., SEPT. 12-13, 1977 

level. The arrival of the warm moist air mass was indicated by a very small dew-point depression of 1 oc 

at both 850-mb and 700-mb ·levels in the vicinity of 

Kansas City in the morning. As the northwesterly 

flow of colder air from the mountain states met the 

warm moist gulf air coming from the southeast, a 

cold front was formed. This cold front was associated with the Low centered over western Kansas. 

The Low with its associated frontal system gradually 

progressed eastward towards Kansas City. The surface, 700-mb, and 500-mb analyses at 0600 c.s.t. are 

shown in figures 3A, 3B, and 3C, respectively. 

Temperature, moisture, and wind distributions in 

the upper atmosphere are routinely probed by rawinsonde at selected stations. The rawinsonde station 

nearest to Kansas City is at Topeka, Kans. Upper-air 

soundings there for 0600 and 1800 c.s.t., Sept. 12, are 

shown in figure 4. Figure 4A shows that the air was 

moist through a deep layer from the surface up to 

570 mb, capped by a dry layer. Strong warm advection existed from the surface to above 700 mb. The 

inversion below 800 mb indicated a diffuse frontal 

transition zone. This was consistent with the fact 

that the surface front was south of Topeka at that 

EXPLANATION 

• • Cold front 

• • Warm front 

-12- lsobars-12 stands 

for 1012 millibars 

H Center of high pressure 

L Center of low pressure 

FIGURE 3.-A, Surface analysis 0600 c.s.t., Sept. 12, 1977. 
METEOROLOGICAL SETTING AND PRECIPITATION DISTRIBUTION 5 

EXPLANATION 

-306- Contour in decameters H Center of contour height 

306 stands for 3060 meters --+1 o-- Temperature, degrees Celsius 

FIGURE 8.-Continued. B, 700-mb analysis 0600 c.s.t., Sept. 12, 1977. 

ime (fig. 3A). Figure 4B shows a moderately moist 

lower and midlayer capped by an inversion at about 

670mb and a very dry layer above. These soundings 

indicated that the low level southerly flow brought 

in moist air from the Gulf. Aloft the advection of 

much drier air from the northwest by the midtropospheric jet stream provided another ingredient 

for generation of instability. The presence of an inversion around 670mb at 1800 c.s.t. prevented deep 

convective overturning initially so that a progressive 

increase of instability could occur. Instead of being 

inhibiting factors, these are, in fact, contributing 

factors favorable to the development of intense convection. Even though Topeka, Kans., was not at the 

center of storm rainfall, the soundings should represent atmospheric structure in the fringe area during 

the latter part of the first storm (fig. 4A) and prior 

to the beginning of the second storm (fig. 4B). 
6 FLOODS IN KANSAS CITY, MO. AND KANS., SEPT. 12-13, 1977 

EXPLANATION 

-576- Contour in decameters --10-- Temperature, degrees Celsius 

576 stands for 5760 meters 

FIGURE 3.-Continued. C, 500-mb analysis 0600 c.s.t., Sept. 12, 1977. 

The integrated 12-h vertical displacement of the 

air parcel terminating at 700mb indicates the degree 

of large-scale atmospheric vertical .motion. Sinking 

motion, or subsidence, is generally associated with 

good weather. On the other hand, vigorous rising 

motion provides a favorable environment for storms 

to develop. The K Index is a measure of the air-mass 

moisture content and static stability, and is given by: 

K = (Ts5o- T5oo) + Td,s5o- (T7oo- Td,7oo) 

where T and T d are temperature and dew point, respectively, in degrees Celsius; and the subscripts denote pressure level in millibars. The larger the K 

Index of the air mass, the more unstable it is. In general, a K Index greater (less) than 35 (20) is associated with numerous (no.) thunderstorms. Both 

parameters are computed using the NWS ThreeDimensional Trajectory Model in a 24-h forecast 

mode. The evolution of these parameters in the vicinity of Kansas City over the 48-h period is shown in 

table 1. 
METEOROLOGICAL SETTING AND PRECIPITATION DISTRIBUTION 7 

ii 

400 e § ~ ,... 

_..,:) 

...... --- r ... --

7 23 

22 

\ 21 

\ 20 

\ 

\ 

'---......... ----"' 

en '-..... a: 

<( 

Ill 600 

:::::i 

...J 

EXPLANATION ~ 650 

18 

17 w 

c 

;:::::) 

16 1-

15 ~ <( 

14 w 

£[: 

w 

::::1: 

D. 

UJ 

z L.l. Lifting index 

w' T.T. Total Total index 

a: 700 LCL Liftin~ condensation level 

::J 

en ~-- Dew-point temperature 

en 

w 750 Air temperature 

a: Wind direction and velocity: 0... 

800 v Barbs on shaft indicate wind speed, 

0 

~ 

~ 

c 

£[: 

<( 

c 

z 

<( 

1-

UJ 

in knots. Long barb= 10 knots; short u; 

850 barb =5 knots. Flag on shaft=50 knots ::j 

900 L.l.=-1 

950 T.T.=48 LCL 

1000 

10

~50 -40 -30 -20 30 50 

-50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 (F) 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 

TEMPERATURE, IN DEGREES CELSIUS (°C) AND FAHRENHEIT (°F) 

FIGURE 4.-A, Rawinsonde profile at Topeka, Kans., 0600. c.s.t., Sept. 12, 1977. 

TABLE 1.-K Index and 12-h net vertical displacement at 

Kansas City vicinity, September 10-12, 1977 

K Index (°C) 

Vertical Displacement 

(mb/12 hr) 

[All times in c.s.t.J 

Sept. 10 

1800 

10 

-10 

Sept. 11 

0600 1800 

12 20 

<20 20 

Sept. 12 

0600 1800 

36 41 

>20 >40 

<40 

Note: Upward (downward) vertical displacement is positive (negative). 

The atmosphere in the Kansas City area became 

progressively unstable on Sept. 12, 1977, as the data 

indicates (table 1). At the same time, the atmosphere 

became increasingly more moist. The mean relative 

humidity from the surface to approximately 490 mb 

for an air column increased from 25 to 85 percent 

over a 48-h period ending at 0600 c.s.t., Sept. 12, 

1977. Precipitable water is defined as the total atmospheric water vapor- contained in a vertical column of unit cross-sectional area extending between 

the surface to a specific level, usually 500 mb. The 

precipitable water over Kansas City increased from 

0.4 in. to about 1.8 in. during the same period, approaching the climatological maximum of 2.0 in. in 

the first half of September. The monthly mean precipitable water there for September is 0.95 in. (Lott, 

1976), about one-half of the observed amount. The 

mixing ratio is defined as the mass of water vapor 

per unit mass of dry air in the mixture. The interpolated mean mixing ratio in the lowest 100 mb at 
8 FLOODS IN KANSAS CITY, MO. AND KANS., SEPT. 12-13, 1977 

400 

\ 

\ 

\ 

450 \ 

500 

550 

(/) 

a: 

<( 

cc 600 ::J 

....J 

~ 650 

z 

w 700 

a: 

:::::> 

(/) 

(/) 750 w 

a: 

Q.. 800 

850 

900 

950 

1000 

1050 -50 

\ 

,_ -------, 

---- -=-....... _ 

-....... ....... _ 

""' 

..,., ,..,-~-- -- \ '--------, 

EXPLANATION 

K.l K Index 

T.T. Total index 

--- Dew-point temperature 

--- Air temperature 

Wind direction and velocity: 

..... _ 

< I 

I ' ..... 

.~ .. / Barbs on shaft indicate wind speed, 

~ in knots. Long barb= 10 knots; short barb 

=5 knots 

K.l.=41 

T.T.=52 

50 

w 

c 

:::;) 

ti= 

...I 

<( 

w 

a: 

w 

:X 

Q. 

0 

0 

::!: 

t-

<( 

c 

a: 

<( 

c 

2 

<( 

t0 

0 

:::;) 

I I I 

-50-40-30 -20 -10 o (F) 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 

TEMPERATURE, IN DEGREES CELSIUS (°C) AND FAHRENHEIT (°F) 

FIGURE 4.-Continued. B, Rawinsonde profile at Topeka, Kans., 1800 c.s.t., Sept. 12,1977. 

0600 c.s.t., Sept. 12, in the Kansas City region was 

13.8 g/kg. For comparison, a value ranging from 12 

to 14 g/kg is usually associated with a typical Great 

Plains severe storm (Maddox, 1976). 

With the air increasingly moist and unstable, and 

with strong low-level wind impinging on the frontal 

surface aloft in the Kansas City vicinity, the first 

burst of heavy rain began in the very early morning 

of September 12. The rate of rainfall was intense at 

some gages: in north Kansas City, 2.20 in. of rain 

fell in a one-half hour period ending at 0150 c.s.t. 

This first storm lasted about 6 to 7 hours. The observed 6-in. maximum amount exceeded the 100-yr 

6-h rainfall of 5.8 in. (Hershfield, 1961). The areal 

average near Kansas City also exceeded 5 in. Rainfall from this first storm ended by 0700 c.s.t.; it completely saturated the soils of the local drainage 

basins, but by itself did not cause any damage. 

Near the end of the first rain period and during 

the initial period of no rain, fog was observed. This 

indicated the existence of a temperature inversion 

with its base near the ground. This condition was 

brought about by the warm front that was then just 

south of Kansas City. Evaporative cooling by raindrops falling into initial cooler air near the ground 

raised the dew point until fog was formed. Since the 

surface wind was light, the fog persisted until diurnal heating raised the temperature into the 70's 

(oF) in the early afternoon. This rain-cooled air 

mass extended from central Missouri to eastern Kansas; its southern boundary became a zone of convective activities and was situated south of Kansas City 

at 1800 c.s.t. Between storms there was an interlude 

of sunshine; and the atmospheric pressure began to 

change. At the Kansas City International Airport it 

fell from 1012.4 mb at 0700 to 1003.5 mb at 1800 
METEOROLOGICAL SETTING AND PRECIPITATION DISTRIBUTION 9 

1016 

1014 

1012 

en 

a: 

<( 

m 1010 ::::i 

....J 

~ 

z 1000 

u.i 

a: 

::J 

en 

en 1008 

w 

a: 

a.. 

1006 

1004 

1002 

80 

t-=" 

z 

Qla...jjj 75 

~~ ww 

Cla: 

Cli 

z~ 70 

<(en 

ww 

a:W 

::Ja: 65 

I-(!) 

<(W 

a:Cl 

~z 

~- 60 

w 

I0 AM 6 AM 

EXPLANATION 

P Pressure 

\ Wind direction and velocity: 

Barbs on shaft indicate wind speed, 

in knots. Long barb= 10 knots; short 

barb =5 knots 

EXPLANATION 

T, Temperature 

Td, Dew-point temperature 

NOON 6 PM MIDNIGHT 

FIGURE 5.-Temperature, dew point, and pressure at Kansas City International Airport on Sept. 12, 1977. Wind speeds and directions 

near 6 p.m. are shown. 

c.s.t.; then it began to rise. Temperature also dropped 

5°F in only 45 minutes, ending at 1830 c.s.t. In the 

same period, surface wind shifted from 140° at 5 kn 

to 340° at 20 kn gusting to 32 kn (fig. 5). These observations indicated a cold front passage, just prior 

to 1830 c.s.t. Figure 6 shows the positions of surface 

fronts and 500 mb jet at 1800 c.s.t., Sept. 12, 1977-

the time just prior to the beginning of the second 

major storm. Areas with 1000-mb dew point temperature equal to or greater than 70°F are shaded. 

Dashed line encloses an area with K Index greater 

than 36, indicating high instability. Kansas City was 
10 FLOODS IN KANSAS CITY, MO. AND KANS., SEPT. 12-13, 1977 

EXPLANATION 

--36-- K, Index 70° Surface dew-point temperature oF 

4 4 Cold front 40 Knots W~nd velocity of 500mb jet 

• • Warm front MCI Kansas City International Airport 

FIGURE 6.-Surface fronts, moist tongue, and 500 mb jet, 1800 c.s.t., Sept. 12, 1977. Crosshatched areas denote areas with 

surface dew-point temperature exceeding 70° or 75°F, as shown. 

also located just north of the warm sector and at the 

tip of a moist tongue. 

All the ingredients necessary for the occurrence of 

significant convection were present. The upward vertical motion associated with the tropospheric jet 

passing just to the north of Kansas City provided a 

triggering mechanism for releasing the instability. 

Convective clouds grew rapidly in this favorable environment. Cumulonimbus tower soon grew to a 

height exceeding 15 km (9.3 mi) with cloud top temperature dropping to below -80°C ( -ll2°F) and 

rain began to fall over soil already saturated by the 

morning storm. By 2000 c.s.t., torrential rain had 

been falling over the metropolitan area for 2 hours. 

A more detailed description of both storms using information derived from satellite imagery is presented in a later section. 

Isohyetal maps of total storm rainfall for the Kansas City vicinity and for affected areas of Missouri, 

Kansas, and Nebraska are shown in figures 7 and 8, 

respectively. Rainfall mass curves for selected rain 

gages are shown in figure 9. A maximum depth-area 

analysis for storm duration of 24 hs is shown in figure lOA. The metropolitan area is well covered by 
METEOROLOGICAL SETTING AND PRECIPITATION DISTRIBUTION 11 

EXPLANATION 

-8- lsohyet showing precipitation, 

in inches 

0 5 10 MILES 

I t I I 

0 10 KILOMETERS 

FIGURE 7.-Isohyetal map, storm of Sept. 12-13, 1977, Kansas City and vicinity. 

rain gages. At the Kansas City International Airport, 8.82 in. fell on September 12, while the total 

storm rainfall there was 9.39 in. over a 36-h period. 

This latter amount exceeded the 100-year 2-day rainfall of 8.8 in. Maximum storm rainfall of 16.15 in. 

observed to the south of Independence over approximately a 36-h period exceeded the 100-year 10-day 

rain of 13.0 in. (Miller, 1964). Supplementary rainfall data were collected through an intensive bucket 

survey conducted by the National Weather Service, 

Central Region, helped by personnel from the N ationa! Severe Storm Forecasting Center and the U.S. 

Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City. These data 

are listed in table 2. 
12 FLOODS IN KANSAS CITY, MO. AND KANS., SEPT. 12-13, 1977 

TABLE 2.-Supplementary rainfall data, storms of Sept. 12-13, 1977, in northeastern Kansas, northwestern Missouri, and 

southeastern Nebraska 

i!OST OF THE RAIN OCCURRED JN ABOUT 25 HOURS E,G,, lNOEPENDENCEoiiO,RECOROERo 

3 !IlLES NORTH OF THE 16 INCH CENTER,JNOICATEO 11,03 JN, FROII 1 All SEPT 12 TO 

2 All 13 SEPT,OUT OF A STORM TOTAL OF UoU INCHES, THE RAIN JN THE METROPOLITAN 

KANSAS CITIES OCCURRED PRIMARILY IN TWO BURSTSo THE FIRST FROM 1 TO 6 AM ON THE 

12TH AND THE SECOND FROM ABOUT 8 AM THE 12TH TO 2 AM THE 13TH, 

THE BAND OF HEAVY RAINFALL EXTENDED FROM SOUTH OF GRANO ISLANOCHASTINGS NEI 

TO NEAR COLUMBIA MO, WITH MAX AMOUNTS AND DAMAGE JN THE KANSAS CITY AREA AND 

EASTWARD TO NEAR ODESSA MO, THE REPORTS ARE PROVIDED IN TWO LISTINGS 11 I FEDERAL 

EMPLOYEES PRIMARILY NWS C OF E AND NESS AND 121 FROII PUBLIC REPORTS RECEIVED 

BY IIAlL, 

STORII RAIN STORII RAIN COUNTY STATE TWP RGE SECTION TOTAL &AGE REIIARKS·OBS, ,LoCATION COUNTY STATE TWP R&E SECTION TOTAL &AGE REIIARKo LOCATION 

CLAY MO 51N 33W 27 SE 1111 7,87 CL•VU ALEXANDER, 1125 Nil 58TH J0HttS0111 KS us 25E 20 SE 1111 SE 1101 12,85 TAYLOR 5605 11, 77TH TEll, 

CLAY MO 51N 33W 1 NWll'l ,, .. a wEDGE ARNS, GLADSTONE SN JOHNSOIII KS us 25E 21 IIIE11'1 12,65 WED&£ 7ft12 ELIIONTE 

CLAY MO 51N 35W 25 SWll'l 9,15 WEDGE AUOSLEY, 56111 MANOR OR JOHIIISON KS us 25£ 22 SWli'IIIIEl/01 15,8 760ft CHADWICK 

CLAY MO 51N 32W 31 NE 1111 NWl/11 8,60 WEDGE DOSWELL, N,KC JOHNSON KS 12S 25E 29 SE1111 111,118 5 IN lft27 WALIIER 

CLAY !'10 50N 33W 11 NW 1111 8,50 5 IN HALI'ISTEOoN,KC JOHNSON KS us 25E 30 NWll'l S£1111 11,50 II IN 8516 W 81ST 

CLAY MO 51N 31W 7 NE 1111 lO,B USDA LIBERTY MO, TOWN SQ, JOHNSON KS 125 25E 32 S£1/'ISEl/11 11,110 SPF 5600 II 92NO PL 

CLAY 1'10 51N 33W 13 SE 1111 9,11 M0HLERo72111 ll,wOOOLAND JOHIIISON KS us 211E 2 NW 11'1 11,65 11 JN, 10210 W,92NO PLACE 

CLAY MO 51N 33W 25 SEl/'1 NWll'l 9,22 WEDGE PHJLLlPSo6003NW000LANO JOHNSON KS us 211E 2 NEll 'I 5,0& WEDGE 10116 W 98TH 

CLAY 1'10 51N 32W 29 sw 1/'1 8,75 wEDGE ZAJDEL, N,KC JOHNSON KS 155 2'1E 3 SWll'l 9,82 13019 W 102NO ST 

JACKSON MO 118N 33W 7 NEll 'I 1'1.6 ALL•W BALKE, 71ST &JEFFERSON JOHNSON KS 13S 2'1E 5 SEll'l SWll'l 11, II& wEDGE 60117 W 101ST 

JACKSON MO 117N 33W 5 NW 1111 9,13 WEDGE BASK IN, 112 E 109 TER, JOHNSON KS 13S 211E 36 NEll'l 2,30 

JACKSON MO 'IBN 3211 9 SEll'l 13,15 5 JN DARRAH, RAYTOWN JOHNSON MO us 25E 27 N£1111 8,2 5 IN 127117 OVERBROOK RD, 

JACKSON MO '19N 3211 9 SEli'IS£1111 12,88 WEDGE GAYLORD 

JACKSON MO 119N 33W 12 sw 1111 1<!,5 sTD J0HNSDNo2626 OAKLEY WYANDOTTE KS lOS 211E 27 S£1111SE11fl 9,05 RAIN•M 6'120 PARKVIEW 

JACKSON MO IITN 33W 17 NW1/II NWl/'1 8,115 wEDGE KANE, GRANDY JEll WYANDOTTE KS us 23E 25 9,31 USDA 1313 EDWARDSVILLE DR 

JACKSON MO 119N 32W 33 NW 1/'1 NE1/fl 13,0& WEDGE KERRo511 NORTHERN WYANDOTTE KS 11S 25E 28 SWl/'IN£1/'1 11,15 VICTOR 2100 S,lOTH 

JACKSON MO 119N 32W 15 NEl/'1 SWl/11 12,9& WEDGE KONOPASEK WYANDOTTE KS us 25E 311 S£1/ll 11 ACU•R 11608 FISHER ST 

JACKSON MO 119N 32W 15 sw 1111 12,87 wEDGE LEMONo3201 ENGLEWOOD T 

JACKSON MO 117N 33W 1'1 NWl/'1 8,117 WEDGE LEMON, 708 DUTCH RD. CLAY MO 51N 32W 30 SEl/'INWllll 8,25 5907 N HOWARD 

JACKSON MO 'IBN 32W 30 NE 1111 11,75 5 IN IIATHEWSo81107 EAST 91ST CLAY MO 51N 32W 33 SEllll 10,5 11912 WINCHESTER 

JACKSON MO ft8N 33W 29 sw 1111 9,35 WEDGE MONOSCHEIN,97'17 WALNUT CLAY MO 51N 33W 2 SE1111 9,27 10 IN, 8B16 N,CHARLOTTE 

JACKSON MO 'IBN 30W 23 SE 1111 NW 1/'1 10,115 ALL•W MULLERoGRAIN V, 8S CLAY MO 51N 33W 8 NWl/11 8, 7 6 IN, 87111 N,HIGHLANO 

JACKSON MO '19N 32W 26 NWl/11 16 1 15 WEDGE NELSON 1 LEES SUMMIT CLAY MO 51N 33W 12 NW1/IINE1/II '· 73 VICTOR 8928 N,PROSPECT 

JACKSON MO '17N 32W 2 NEl/11 9, 75 WEDGE NEUMAN 1 LEES SUMMIT 5W CLAY 1'!0 51N 33W 23 N[1/ftNW1/11 7,60 7010 N,HOLMES 

JACKSON 1'!0 118N 33W 30 NE 1/11 9,27 5 IN REEO, 616 W 89TH 

JACKSON MO 119N 32W 3 N£1111 10,911 CL•VU ROCK CR, NET,CE JACKSON MO 117N 30W 1 NE1/'INE1/'I 8,0 LONE JACK, MO 

JACKSON KO 119N 32W 11 SEl/11 J2,83 C~·VU ROCK CR, NET ,CE JACKSON MO 117N 31W 25 SE1/'I NE11'1 7,8 3908 SEQUOIA 

JACKSON MO 119N 32W 15 NEl/'1 13,86 CL•VU ROCK CR, NET ,CE JACKSON MO 117N 32W 19 NW 1111 8,9! TRU•C 131116 SYCA,.ORt 

JACKSON 1'!0 119N 32W 16 SW1/'INW1/II 11,30 CL•VU ROCK CR, NET ,CE JACKSON MO '17N 33W 3 SW1111 S[1/'l 8 51N 10612 WALROND 

JACKSON MO 119N 32W 22 S£1/11 16,22 CL•VU ROCK CR, NET ,CE JACKSON MO 117N 33W 25 SW1111 7,50 6 IN, 129TH I 71 HWY 

JACKSON MO II IN 32W 19 NE 1/11 13,05 ROCKWOOD, RAYTOWN JACKSON MO 118N 31W 1 N£1/'1 12,1 6IN 1312 SKYLIIIE OR 

JACKSON MO 118N 31W 311 SWl/'1 NWllll 10.0 WEDGE RUCKER oLEES SUI'!MIT JACKSON P!O 'IBN 32W 19 NE1/II 11,65 TRU•C 81112 JAMES A REED RD 

JACKSON MO IITN 33W 3 NW1/II SEl/11 8,88 wEDGE SARGERT tii009RED BRIDGE JACKSON 1'!0 'IBN 33W 3 N£1111 12, 70& 5 IN 5929 KENSINGTON 

JACKSON MO 119N 31W 26 SE 1/11 ~~:;7 ;~~VU, ~=~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~KER JACKSON MO 'IBN 33W 5 SE 1/11 12,95 viCTOR 5619 ROCKHILL RD 

JACKSON MO '19N 32W 13 SWl/11 JACKSON MO 'IBN 33W 8 SEl/11 13.~2 6IN 71123 HOLMES 

JACKSON MO IIBN 32W 3 SE1/IINW111t 111,~3 CL•VU VOCHATZERo12201 E 61 T JACKSON 1'!0 'IBN 33W 11 NWl/'1 15 11 IN, SWOPE: PK, GREENHOUSE 

JACKSON MO IIBN 33W 31 NE 1/11 10,15 WEINRICH• 1100 WolOO T JACKSON MO 'IBN 33W 16 SWl/11 10,80 81100 EUCLID JACKSON MO 118N 33W 8 SWl/11 13.32 wEDGE WERTHANo1105E, 71ST, TER JACKSON MO 118N 33W 17 NEll'+ 1'1,60 5 IN, 920 E, 76TH TER, 

JOHNSON KS 12S 211E 27 SWl/'INWl/11 10.8 ALL•W CALABRESE, 8208 NOLA NO JACKSON 110 118N 33W 18 NWl/11 12,70 OHIO 1105 W 77TH STREET 

JOHNSON KS 12S 25E ... NWl/11 11,23 5 JN, CASTOoROELAND PK JACKSON MO 'IBN 33W 18 SWl/11 NWl/11 8,5 7909 WARD PARKWAY 

JOHNSON KS 12S 211E 1 NWl/11 10,5& WEDGE CRAIGo SHAWNEE JACKSON MO 'IBN 33W 21 NEl/11 11,21 TRU•C 8601 GARFltLO 

JOHNSON KS 11S 211E 25 NE1/'+ SW11'1 9,18 WEDGE DECAIGNY, 16'12S, 51ST JACKSON MO 118N 33W 31 NEl/11 10,~0 5 JN, 91115 JARBOE: JOHNSON KS 13S 211E 10 NW 1/11 9,82 CL•VU GRAYo OVERLAND PK JACKSON 1'!0 118N 33W 32 NE 1/11 NW l/11 10,5 609B 10026 WALNUT DR 

JOHNSON KS 12S 211E 11 NW 1/11 B,95 RRG HAHN, SHAWNEE JACKSON 1'!0 119N 30W 3 SWl/'ISWl/'1 11,0 BUCKNER ItS 

JOHNSON KS 13S 2'1E 1 SW1/'I 10,99 HALES JACKSON MO 119N 30W 3~ 10,,& 6 IN, GRAIN VALLEYo MO 

JOHNSON KS 12S 25E 15 sw 1111 111,3 CL•VU HUGHES, I'!ISSION HI~LS JACKSON MO 119N 32W 32 SE 1/11 NE 1/11 11.5 6 IN. 115 N, OVERTON AVE 

JOHNSON KS us 25E .. NWl/11 11.5 CL•VU KNUDSENoOVE:RLAND PK JACKSON 1'10 119N 32W 32 SE1/IINW1/II 15, 5& WEDGE 8905 E, 55TH 

JOHNSON KS 12S 25E 33 SW1/ft 11.3& WEDGE LEE LARSON 95TH&ROE JACKSON MO '19N 33W 1 CENTER 13,0 10 INo 1032 FULLER 

JOHNSON KS 13S 25E Eo N£1/11 11,12 CL•VU MEAUXo7508 W 95TH TER JACKSON MO '19N 33W 25 NE 1111 111,0 ! JN, 7061 Eo117TH ST 

JOHNSON KS us 250 'I NW 1111 11,0 ALL•W OSTBY, 11812 W, 91 TER JACKSON MO 119N 33W 32 N£1/'IN£1/11 12,7~ 6 Illl, 511111 HOLI'!ES 

JOHiiSON KS 125 211E 27 SW1/'INW1/II 10,8 A~L·W PROE:IIZAo8210 HAUSER JACKSON MO 119N 33W 36 S£1/11 13,83 vic. 6501 Eo 58TH 

JOHNSON KS 12S 25E 31 NW1/II 13,6& 6 IN SCHOEN I, 852'1 W 88TH T, JACKSON 110 50N 30W 22 NE 1/11 10.0 CL•VU BUCKNER BANK 

JOHNSON KS 13S 211E 2 SW1/'I 9,81 wEDGE SEDOV IC JACKSON "10 50N 31W 30 11,60 WEDGE 178011 REDWOOD ORo 

JOHNSON KS 12S 25E 29 NE 11'1 111. 7& wEDGE WEISS JACKSON MO 50N 32w 32 SWl/11 SWl/11 12.2 TAY~OR 117211 ROBERTS 

PLATTE MO 51N 3'1W 23 .NW 1111 9,67 CL•VU HENOERSONoPARKVILLE 2N JACKSON MO SON 33W 32 SWl/'+ 9,10 5 IN, 307 N, GRAND 

PLATTE 1'10 51N 3'1W 27 sw 1/11 9,67 WEDGE JOHNSTONoPARKVILL[ 2W JACKSON "10 50'1 33w 35 SEl/11 9,33 6 IN, 11011 N HARDESTY 

PLATTE P'IO 50N 33W .. NEli'ISl/2 8,80 WEDGE KNIPPoiiOO WOODLAND RD JACKSON MO !51N 30W 311 SW1/'ISW1111 10,11 SIBLEY 111 

PLATTE MO S3N 35W 9 NW1/II 8,71 CL•VU LONGSDORF ,WESTON 6E JACKSON MO 51N 32W 29 NEl/'1 SW1/II 9,35 SPF 5209 E, 60TH TER, 

PLATTE MO 51N 311W 11 sw 1111 a ..... ~ IN REMBOLDT, WEATHtRBY L, JACKSON MO 51N 32W 31 SE 1111 9,5 39011 NE II 9TH TER, 

PLATTE MO 51N 33W 17 NE 1/11 SW 1/11 8,81 WEDGE WILLIAI'!So WAUKOMIS 

WYANDOTTE KS 10S 23E 26 NWll'l NEl/'1 9,17 WEDGE SMITHo2906 N56TH JOHNSOr-1 MO 'I liN 27W .. 6,1 6 IN, HOLDEN' 6SE 

JOHNSON KS 12S 211E .. N£1/11 10& 10 IN 111113 W '18 TER JOHNSON 1'!0 1t6N 2BW 27 NE 1/11 5,0 5 IN, HOLDEN 3N 

J0Hr.ISON KS 12S 211E 11 SE1/II 12,80 VICTOR 10715 II 61ST JOHNSON KS 12S 211E 12 NWl/11 NEl/11 11,00 ~ IN 5713 KESSLER LAYFAYETTE MO 'IBN 26W 1~ SWl/11 9,5& 

JOHNSON KS 12S 211E 211 NE1/II NWl/11 10,81 6 IN 7018 GRANDVIEW LAYFAYETTE MO 118N 26W 17 NW1/'ISW1111 10,! ODESSA BESE 

JOHNSON KS 12S 211E 25 SWl/'1 9,50 II IN 86 TH&F ARLEY LAYFAYETTE MO 'IBN 28W 27 S011/'l 10,25 6 IN, 

JOHNSON KS 12S 2'1E 33 •~Ell'+ 10,58 5 IN 8966 PARK LAYFAYETTE 1'!0 118N 29W 3 NEl/11 13,11 BATES CITY 1,5w 

JOHNSON KS 12S 25E 2 NW1/II NW1/II 12,5 5 IN '+937 GLENDALE RD LAFAYETTE PIO '19N 25W 6 WEST 8,1~ HIGGINSVILLE WATER PLT 

JOHNSON KS 12S 25E .. SW11'+ 10 5 IN 11101 W 53 TtR LAYFAYETTE MO 119N 27W 15 NEl/'1 9,00 I'!AYVlEWoMO, 

JOHNSON KS 12S 25E 5 S£1/11 11,6 5 IN 5631 BEVERLY LAYFAYETTE MO 119N 28W 3 SW11'1 9,5 ODESSA 5NNW 

JOHNSON KS 12S 25E 8 NW1/II NWllfl 10,90 TRU•C 6320 W 57 TER LAYFAYETTE 1'!0 119N 28W 15 SE1/ft 12.0 ODESSA 3NNW 

JOHNSON KS 12S 25E 9 NW 1111 13,10 VICTOR 51100 CEDAR LAYFAYETTE MO 50N 28W 15 SW1/'ISE1/II 9,00 WELLINGTON MO, 

JOHNSON KS 12$ 25( 10 NE 1/11 SW 1/11 13,3 11 IN, 60111 WINDSOR OR JOHNSON KS 12S 25E 10 NWl/'1 NW1/It 12,50 6001 LOCKTDN LANE PLATTE 1'!0 51N 33W 28 N£1111 7, 7 WEDGE 5906 HUTSON RD, 

JOHNSON KS 12S 25E 17 NW1/II 11,75 SPF 6212 WAL,.ER PLATTE MO 51N 3'1W 25 SE1/IIS£1/11 8,75 5 IN, 1131 N, 56TH ST, 

JOHNSON KS t2S 25E 17 SE 11'1 NW 1/11 15 AIR•G 6'108 W, 67TH RAY MO 51N 29W 23 SE1/ft 9,60 BANK OF ORRICK 

RAY 1'!0 52W 29W 1 8,9 5 IN, EXCELSIOR SPGRS 5E 

& POSSIBLE OVERFLOW OR SPLASH OUT 

RAIN GAGES CL•VUoAI.L•W II INoOIAoFUNNELoAPPROx, 12 IN, CAPACITY PLASTIC RRG UNIV, RECORDER STD STANDARD NWS NON•RECORDER 

WEDGE APPROX, 6 IN, PLASTIC: 

5 IN, PLASTIC 5 IN, CAPACITY 

ACU•R ACU•RITE OHIO OHIO THERM, RAIN GAGE 

RAIN•I'! RAINPIASTER 

SPF SPRINGFIELD TAYLOR 

TRu-e TRUE CHECK VIC, VICTORY 

VICTOR••S IN CAPACITY 

609B I AIR•G, AIRGUIDE 
ggo 

~"'4~ ...... , 

.,. ·-

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41°'1 z:a: ~ J ••• ~ 

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gao 97° 

EXPLANATION 

NON- NON-

"""' RECORD- RECORD - RECORD- RECORD38° 

I 

.. 

"-" I 

... 

lNG 

Precipitation station • 

Precipitation and .. temperature 

Precipitation and + evaporation 

Precipitation, 

+ temperat.ure, and 

evaporation 

Weather Bureau, 

F.A.A., 

Military stations • •.• ' 10 ' ' ' ~CAL&•-

.:... 

lNG lNG lNG 

0 Unofficial 

~ 

precipitation 

station 0 

Lake (pool, ~ precipitation, II ID 

evaporation, 

-9- outflow gage) 

River gage, rated • 6 

0 River gage, • D 

stage only 

lsohyet showing precipitation, 

in inches -8--

"',t./ 0 e. 

96° 

OGridllr 

Vqil y- Cemor (35£) ~ toto (IW) 

~ -(T r-.Jo 0 Hlllllilllll 

(J TA 

eo,..o 

()~.,_,., 

) 0 --· .1 £.rio 0 

• ,n95° 94° 93° 

~·!No(/) 

~·-· ~ Sl Clwioo • ~ 

• 

0( 

~"-

FIGURE 8.-Isohyetal map of total rainfall for Sept. 11-13, 1977, in southeastern Nebraska, northeastern Kansas, and north-central Missouri. 

a= 

l:rj 

1-3 

l:rj 

0 

~ 

0 

t'l 

0 

C) 

1-1 

0 

> 1:-i 

00. 

l:rj 

1-3 

1-3 

1-1 

z 

C) 

> z 

t:1 

l-0 

~ 

l:rj 

0 

1-1 

l-0 

1-1 

1-3 

> 

1-3 

1-1 

0 

z 

t:1 

1-1 

00. 

t-3 

~ 1-1 

ttl 

c::: 

1-3 

1-1 

0 

z 

....... 

c.o 
14 FLOODS IN KANSAS CITY, MO. AND KANS., SEPT. 12-13, 1977 

8 10 

7.43 Elm, Mo. 

(/) 

w 

I 

u 6 8 ~ (/) 

w ~ I 

u _; 

-1 ~ <( 

u.. ~ z 4 6 _; < -1 cc: <( 

u. w z > <( i= 

<( a: .....J LU ::::> 2 4 > ~ 

::::> 

u ~ -1 

::::> 

~ 

::::> 

u 2 0 11 12 13 14 15 

0 11 12 13 14 

10 12 

9.37 11.11 Independence, Mo. 

8 10 

(/) (/) w LLJ I I u u ~ ~ 8 ~ 6 ~ _; _; .....J -1 

~ <( 

z u.. 

z <( < 6 a: cc: w w > 4 > i= i= <( <( .....J .....J ::::> ::::> 4 ~ ~ ::::> ::::> u u 

2 

2 

12 13 14 

11 12 13 14 15 

FIGURE 9.-Mass rainfall curves at four selected raingages, Sept. 11-14, 1977. 

, 
METEOROLOGICAL SETTING AND PRECIPITATION DISTRIBUTION 15 

(/) 

w 

....J 

~ 

10,000 

~ 1,000 

<( 

::::> 

0 

(/) 

z 

<{ 

w 

~ 100 

10 

36hr 

1L---~----~--~----~----L----L--~ 

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 

PRECIPITATION DEPTH, IN INCHES 

FIGURE 10.-A, Depth-area analysis for 36-h duration for 

storm precipitation, Sept. 12-13, 1977. 

Most of the rain fell on Kansas City and vicinity 

in a 24-h period from 0100 c.s.t., Sept. 12, to 0100 

c.s.t., Sept. 13, 1977. The first burst occurred from 

0100 to 0700 c.s.t., Sept. 12. The second burst occurred from 1830 c.s.t., Sept. 12, to 0100 Sept. 13. 

Within this framework, considerable- variation in the 

time distribution of rain exists among different 

gages. The band of considerable rainfall extended 

from H~stings, Nebr., to near Columbia, Mo. Within 

this band, the 8-in. isohyet enclosed an area from 

Leavenworth, Kans., to Concordia, Mo. (fig. 8). 

Flood damage was maximal in the Kansas City area. 

PRECIPITATION ESTIMATIONS USING SATELLITE 

INFRARED IMAGERY 

The Geostationary Operational Environmental 

Satellite (GOES) System including the Synchronous 

Meteorological Satellite (SMS) provides an ideal 

platform where rain-producing weather systems 

ranging from convective storms through squall lines 

to frontal zones can be continuously monitored. However, GOES sensors do not "see" rain directly. All 

13~-~~--~---,----.----.-~---.-1--,1---. 

(/) 

w 

I 

12 

11 

10 

u 9 

z 

~ 8r- ....J' 

....J 

~ 7 

z 

<( 

a: 6 w 

> 

~ 5 ....J 

::::> 

~ 4 

u 

3 

2 

1 ~ 

0 l I 

18 

SEPT. 11 

) 

I I l 

06 NOON 18 

SEPT. 12 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

I 

06 

SEPT. 13 

FIGURE 10.-Continued. B, Composite rainfall mass curve 

derived from satellite infrared imagery, Sept. 11-13, 1977. 

precipitation is accompanied by cloudiness, but not 

all clouds yield precipitation. In order to "see" rain, 

we must choose a sensing wavelength that can penetrate clouds or at least be able to distinguish a clear 

separation of precipitating clouds from all others. At 

certain- portions of the microwave band (A > 104 p,) 

of the electromagnetic spectrum, thin, nonprecipitating clouds become fairly transparent and raindrops 

can be detected. This differentiation is not possible 

in the visible (0.55 to 0.70 p,) and infrared channels 

10.5 to 12.6 tL) sensed by the GOES Visible and Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer (VISSR). 

One of the earlier attempts to obtain a quantitative rainfall estimation was made by Follansbee 

(1973). Using one afternoon cloud's coverage picture 

from a polar-orbiting satellite, he made rainfall estimates over an area the order of 105 km2 (38,600 mP) 

by considering the summed ratios of coverages by 

cumulonimbus, nimbostratus, and cumulus congestus, 

each weighted by an empirical coefficient. This 

method is only appropriate where and when rainfall 

is due to convective storms produced by diurnal 
16 FLOODS IN KANSAS CITY, MO. AND KANS., SEPT. 12-13, 1977 

heating. In general, however, the evolution of cloud 

system is too swift for one picture to be representative for a whole day. During recent years, several 

improved schemes have been devised. It should be 

mentioned that Cheng and Rodenhuis (1977) found 

that the instantaneous state of clouds in a satellite 

imagery and region of precipitation, as indicated by 

radar echoes, was not well correlated. 

Woodley and his group at the National Hurricane 

and Experimental Meteorology Laboratory (of 

NOAA) did much of the groundwork in rainfall estimation using satellite data (1972). They found that 

the rain-producing clouds are bright and cold on the 

satellite image by virtue of their greater thickness. 

They also pointed out that instead of a snapshot, a 

complete "time-exposure" is needed to track a cloud 

mass of interest. Since the same brightness or cloud 

top temperature can indicate quite different rainfall, 

an accurate estimate of rainfall amount depends on 

whether the cloud mass is growing or decaying. The 

life stages of the cloud system can be identified 

only from a sequence of satellite pictures. Clouds 

with expanding cold tops in the infrared (IR) or 

bright clouds in the visible imagery correspond to 

the incipient and mature stage of storm development 

and produce more rainfall than those not expanding. 

Clouds with contracting bright area or cold top correspond to the decaying stage of a storm and are 

associated with little or no rainfall. Most of the significant rainfall occurs in the upwind at the anvillevel portion of a convective system. The highest and 

coldest clouds form where the thunderstorms are 

most vigorous and the rain heaviest. These cold 

clouds get thinner downwind and become warmer as 

the anvil material blows away from its origin over 

the updraft (Woodley and others, 1972). 

Rain estimates using satellite imagery have been 

made and verified in Florida using gage-adjusted 

radar estimates of precipitation as ground truth 

(Griffith and others, 1978). The results show considerable overestimation by the satellite method. But 

accuracy appears to be a function of the total time 

period under consideration. Both error and standard 

deviation of estimates decrease when estimates are 

accumulated for 6 h or longer. Based on the relationships between rainfall and satellite cloud imagery 

found by Woodley's group, Schofield and Oliver 

(1977) proposed an empirical method for making 

quantitative estimations of half-hourly rainfall, 

mainly from infrared imagery that can be applied 

operationally in near real-time. Satellite rainfall estimation made in the current study (fig. lOB) is based 

on this empirical method. 

The extreme rainfall that caused the Kansas City 

flash flood of September 1977 came as two storms, 

each of about 6- to 8-h duration and separated by a 

period of no rain of 8-12 h. Within each storm, rainfall intensity varied considerably. Selected GOES infrared imagery pictures for the two storms are 

shown in figure 11. 

Characteristics of these two storms as revealed by 

these pictures are summarized separately. 

Specific features of the infrared imagery of the 

first storm (fig. llA, B, and C) : 

1. Kansas City was located near the edge of the 

anvil at 0100 c.s.t., Sept. 12. Anvil is defined as that 

portion of a cumulonimbus ( Cb) cloud system where 

cloud top temperature Tt is less than -32° 

( -25.6°F). 

2. Protruding Cb turrets with cloud top temperature Tt colder than -80°C ( -ll2°F) existed near 

Kansas City from 0100 to 0230 c.s.t. They propagated eastward afterwards and disappeared by 0400 

c.s.t. 

3. Turrets went through considerable expansion 

between 0130 and 0200 c.s.t., indicating occurrence 

of intense rainfall in this period. 

4. Maximum cloud top temperature gradient 

- v Tt reached near Kansas City was at 0230 c.s.t. 

estimated to be 39°C/50 km (70°F /30 mi) toward 

the northeast. 

5. By 0330, active turret had moved to the east of 

Kansas City and Tt over Kansas City increased to 

between -58°C ( -72°F) and -62°C ( -80°F), 

signifying the beginning of storm decay and reduction of rainfall intensity there. 

6. Dissipating stage continued past 0400 c.s.t., but 

with little rain indicated after 0500 c.s.t. 

Specific features of the infrared imagery of the 

second storm (figs. llD, E, and F) : 

1. At 1800 c.s.t., Sept. 12, Kansas City was located 

at the edge of the anvil topping the cumulonimbus 

cloud mass to the north. 

2. Protruding turret with cloud top temperature 

Tt less than -80°C ( -ll2°F) was already in existence at 1800 c.s.t. Area of turret remained the same 

until 1830, but then started to expand. 

3. The most rapid expansion occurred between the 

period 1930 to 2030 c.s.t.; this corresponded to the 

time of most vigorous convective activity and most 

intense rainfall. 

4. The anvil level wind was southwesterly about 

50 kn. Between 1930 and 2030 c.s.t., the turret area 
METEOROLOGICAL SETTING AND PRECIPITATION DISTRIBUTION 17 

actually expanded upwind. This signaled an abundant moisture inflow and vigorous rising motion to 

the southwest of Kansas City-over Johnson County 

and Brush Creek headwaters in Kansas. 

5. Maximum cloud top temperature gradient 

- v Tt reached near Kansas City was at 2030 c.s.t. 

estimated to be 48 °C/ 25 km (84 °F / 15 mi) toward 

the north. This gradient was more than twice as 

steep as that reached in the first storm. Quantitative 

relationship between - v Tt and rainfall has not been 

established, but qualitatively there is a positive correlation between them, and the maximum rainfall 

intensity of the second storm was greater than that 

of the first storm. 

6. Cold turret began contraction after 2030 c.s.t. 

This contraction initially affected the Kansas portion 

of the storm system. The turret over and to the 

northeast of Kansas City, Mo., was maintained past 

2200 c.s.t. 

When locating the highest and, therefore, coldest 

top of thunderstorm on a map, a correction for displacement error of satellite-sensed cloud top must be 

made. This correction is necessary because, except at 

the subpoint, the line of sight from the satellite 

sensor to the cloud top is slanted. The amount of correction depends on the height of the cloud top and its 

longitude and latitude differences from those of the 

subpoint. For example, at 2030 c.s.t., Sept. 12, the 

coldest top north of Kansas City (fig. llB) was estimated at a height of 53,000 ft, to map its true geographical position, it should be displaced toward 

southeast by a distance of 12 miles. 

Based on the analysis of the infrared characteristics of the storm and using the method in NOAA 

Technical Memorandum NESS 86, we constructed a 

composite rainfall mass curve (fig. lOB). From the 

users' point of view, the quality of an infrared 

imagery is characterized by three parameters : the 

spatial resolution or instantaneous field of view, the 

temporal resolution or the time between consecutive 

looks at the same spot, and temperature resolution or 

the ability to discern a cloud against the earth background by virtue of the temperature difference between the two. These three parameters are not mutually independent. For example, to increase the spatial resolution by reducing the field of view would 

degrade temperature and temporal resolutions. Thus, 

the design of the Visible and Infrared Spin Scan 

Radiometer (VISSR) aboard GOES represents an 

optimal trade-off among these three parameters. 

The present GOES infrared imagery has a spatial 

resolution of 9 km (5.6 mi) at the satellite subpoint 

at 0.5 ° N., 75.0° W. This resolution degrades the 

farther the sensed area lies from the subpoint. 

Therefore, the derived mass curve (fig. lOB) represents the time distribution of rainfall over an area 

approximately 100 km2 (about 39 mF) where rainfall was heaviest. It should not be compared with 

any mass curve of specific gages in figure 9, but instead should be compared with depth-area-duration 

analysis. A storm depth-area analysis for a duration 

of 36 hours is shown in figure lOA. This is based on 

the isohyetal analysis of "ground truth" data from 

rain gages and a bucket survey. Comparison of figure lOB to rainfall amounts at 39 mi 2 in figure lOA 

shows that figure lOB underestimated the maximum 

rainfall by 1.4 in. This represents a 10 percent underestimation. The possible reasons for this are not 

discussed here. It is evident, however, that the composite mass curve derived from GOES infrared 

imagery (fig. lOB) is not inconsistent with the conventional depth-area-duration analysis (fig. lOA). 

Weather radar coverage for the Kansas City area 

was provided by a WSR-57 radar at the National 

Severe Storm Forecast Center in Kansas City and by 

a WSR-74C radar at Topeka, both operated by National Weather Service. The radar Video Integrator 

and Processor (VIP) provides automatic contouring 

of the varying radar echo intensity which is used to 

estimate instantaneous rainfall rate. Detailed time 

sequence of radar scope displays are archived in film 

form at NOAA's National Climatic Center at Asheville, N.C., and are not presented here. Radar data 

indicated that precipitation of the second storm first 

began to the north and west of metropolitan area 

and then moved southward. This is consistent with 

the satellite pictures in figures llD, E, F. The storm 

reached Kansas City downtown area by 1830 c.s.t. 

In the Great Plains, it is not uncommon for a flood 

to result from new rainfall on succeeding nights. 

Normally, such subsequent heavy rainfall has a tendency to occur in an area downwind from the earlier 

events. What distinguished the 1977 Kansas City 

flood was that the two bursts of heavy rains fell on 

nearly the same location. In fact, in the satellite infrared imagery, the cumulonimbus turret actually 

propagated upwind toward southwest in the early 

stage of the second storm. During about 61!2 h, this 

second storm released up to 7 in. of rainfall on the 

previously saturated area. This amount again exceeded the 100-year 6-h rainfall value. All streams 

and creeks rose rapidly and almost simultaneously as 

the rain fell. It was this second burst of heavy rain 

that caused havoc. Even with drainage basins as 

small as those involved, a shift of the heaviest rain of 
18 FLOODS IN KANSAS CITY, MO. AND KANS., SEPT. 12-13, 1977 

. JJiRrlr !~/!~"' 

..--A 

c 

FIGURE 11.-GOES infrared imagery for first storm (llA, /3, C) and second 

storm (llD, E, F). All pictures are enhanced by use of Mn curve to increase 

the contrast of cloud top temperature differences. To convert different shading into temperature ranges, use the scale shown in figure llB, where A: 

- 32~- 41oC; B:- 41~- 52oC; C: 52~- 58°C; D:- 58~- 62° 

C; E:- 62~ -71°C; F:- 71~- 80°C; G: below- 80°C. 

A.-0100 c.s.t., Sept. 12, 1977. 

B.-0200 c.s.t., Sept. 12, 1977 • 

C.-0300 c.s.t., Sept. 12, 1977. 
METEOROLOGICAL SETTING AND PRECIPITATION DISTRIBUTION 

~A 

~A· 

. . . . . . . . 

. 

~----C 

. ,. 

, 

• 8 • ~ ... ·/ ... ., . , ~.~ ... 

FIGURE H.-Continued. 

D.-1830 c.s.t., Sept. 12, 1977. 

E.-1930 c.s.t., Sept. 12, 1977 . 

F.-2030 c.s.t., Sept. 12, 1977. 

19 
20 FLOODS IN KANSAS CITY, MO. AND KANS., SEPT. 12-13, 1977 

either storm of only a few miles apart would have 

greatly reduced the intensity of the flood. The fact 

that the axis of heavy rain in the second storm also 

lay WSW-ENE, approximately along the direction of 

Brush Creek and the adjacent small basins, further 

aggravated the severity of the resulting flash flood. 

DESCRIPTION AND MEASUREMENT OF FLOODS 

FLOOD DAMAGES 

Water damage was widespread in nearly every 

drainage basin in the area. Because of the high rainfall intensities that occurred during the storm, hillside runoff flooded garages and basements of buildings in some areas located well above the flood plains. 

High-rainfall intensity, however, was not the sole 

cause of flood damage in the study area. Only 10 

hours apart, both rainfall periods exceeded the 100-

year 24-h rainfall frequency depth. The first rainfall 

period saturated the ground. This saturated soil, together with large impervious urbanized areas forced 

much of the second storm rainfall to become surface 

runoff, since it could not infiltrate the ground. All 

these conditions, together with the high rainfall intensities, added to the magnitude of the total runoff. 

The greatest damage to commercial property occurred in the Brush Creek and lower Blue River 

basins. In the Brush Creek basin, many shoppers had 

parked their cars in underground sections of multilevel parking lots and along streets that were inundated during the flood. Mission Shopping Center in 

Mission, Kans., was inundated by floodwaters from 

steep hillside slopes and overbank flow from Rock 

Creek, a tributary in the Brush Creek basin. Shops 

and stores in the Country Club Plaza of Kansas City, 

FIGURE 12.- Brush Creek, after flood crest, looking north on J. C. Nichols Parkway at Ward Parkway, at Country Club Plaza, 

Kansas City, Mo. 
DESCRIPTION AND MEASUREMENT OF FLOODS 21 

I!'IGURE 13.-Brush Creek, after flood crest, looking east along Ward Parkway, at Wornall Road at Country Club Plaza, Kansas 

City, Mo. 

Mo., just upstream from the U.S. Geological Survey 

gaging station at Main Street, were flooded by as 

much as 6 ft of water, as evidenced in figures 12 to 

16. Floodmarks can be seen in the window of the 

U.S. Post Office at Plaza Center (fig. 14). 

The industrialized lower Blue River flood plain 

was damaged, also. Railroad tracks were undermined 

as much as 3 to 4 ft deep along bridge approaches. 

Figure 16 shows the general flooding in the industrial area in the Blue River basin between 23rd 

Street and Truman Road. 

Residents along Rock Creek in Independence, Mo., 

felt the brunt of the flood when 11 houses were completely destroyed. Other houses were left in the middle of streets after ceiling-level floodwaters floated 

them from their foundations. 

A 10-county area was affected by the floodwaters. 

Public damage awards made in the Kansas City area 

exceeded $14 million, according to Federal Disaster 

Assistance Administration officials in Kansas City. 

The Small Business Administration reports that 

about $31 million in Missouri and $8.5 million in 

Kansas has been awarded in a total of 3,000 small 

business loans, as a result of the flood. The U.S. 

Army Corps of Engineers damage survey indicates 

that, overall, the Rock Creek (Mo.) and Brush Creek 

basins, where the highest rainfall depths and intensities were recorded, sustained more than $80 million 

in damages. 

According to Federal Insurance Administration 

officials in Kansas City, there were 1,539 flood insurance policies in force within the metropolitan area of 

Kansas City, Mo.-Kans. at the time of the flood. FIA 

reports that there were 2,142 flood insurance policies 

in force during 1978 (metropolitan Kansas City), 

with an increase of over $32 million in coverage. 
22 FLOODS IN KANSAS CITY, MO. AND KANS., SEPT. 12-13, 1977 

FIGURE 14.-United States Post Office, after Brush Creek flood crest, on Ward Parkway at Country Club Plaza, Kansas City, 

Mo. 
DESCRIPTION AND MEASUREMENT OF FLOODS 23 

FIGURE 15.-View of 600 block of West 48th Street, after Brush Creek flood crest, at Country Club Plaza, Kansas City, Mo. 
24 FLOODS IN KANSAS CITY, MO. AND KANS., SEPT. 12-13, 1977 

FIGURE 16.-Aerial view after flood crest, looking west along Blue River between 23rd Street and Truman Road, Kansas City, 

Mo. 

FLOOD HYDROGRAPHS 

Figures 17 to 29 are flood hydrographs for the 

storm period at selected U.S. Geological Survey gaging stations in the area. A rainfall mass curve is also 

shown for Round Grove Creek (fig. 23) where rainfall was recorded simultaneously with river stage in 

a dual gaging system. The gage structures on Rock 

Creek at Independence, Mo., and Brush Creek at 

Main Street at Kansas City, Mo., were damaged during the flood peak and parts of the flood hydrographs 

were computed on the basis of high-water marks, 

earlier flow records, and the stage record, prior to 

gage failure. Estimated hydrograph segments are 

shown as dashed lines. 

Discharge hydrographs were developed from stage 

records and from the relationship between stage and 

stream discharge at each site (figs. 17 to 29). 

Other flood hydrographs for streams outside the 

area of maximum precipitation depths show the variation of storm runoff over the area. 

FLOOD-CREST PROFILES AND INUNDATED AREAS 

Water-surface profiles of the flood on Blue River, 

Brush Creek, Rock Creek (Kans.), Rock Creek 

(Mo.), and Little Blue River are shown in figures 30 

to 34. Where information is available, elevations of 

bridge floors are shown to indicate road overflow. 

The profile of the September 1961 flood on the Blue 

River is shown for comparison (fig. 30). The effect 

of inflow of Brush Creek at mile 11.3 is evident. 
DESCRIPTION AND MEASUREMENT OF FLOODS 25 

Commercial and residential areas along Brush 

Creek underwent extensive flood damage, especially 

at and around the Country Club Plaza shopping center. Shown in figure 35 are the flood boundaries in 

the Plaza area upstream from the U.S. Geological 

Survey stream-gaging station at Main Street. The 

aera of inundation within the flood lines shows that 

the major flooding in the Plaza area is restricted to 

the low left-bank flood plain. The flooded area is 

shown from Main Street upstream to Jefferson 

Street. 

The Main Street roadfill was not overtopped during the flood, and the total flood discharge was confined to the bridge opening (fig. 35). Elevations of 

high-water marks at the bridge showed a 2.5 ft drop 

in water surface between the upstream and downstream sides of the bridge. 

Flood boundaries of the Sept. 12-13, 1977, flood in 

other areas where flood-crest profiles have been determined are delineated on topographic maps (scale 

1 :24,000) and are available from the U.S. Geological 

Survey, 1400 Independence Road, Rolla, Mo. 65401. 

Table 3 lists the discharge measurement sites in 

downstream order. A summary of location descriptions, as well as other basic data, is provided in an 

earlier report by Hauth and Carswell (1978). 

MEASUREMENT OF FLOOD DISCHARGES 

Hydrologists were in the area measuring storm 

runoff from the two-storm flood by noon of Sept. 13. 

Although floodwaters had receded from small drainage systems before daylight, useful discharge measurements were obtained from streams of greater 

drainage areas. At the same time, hydrologists were 

selecting sites and identifying floodmarks for indirect determinations of discharge. 

Peak discharges were determined at 31 sites (table 

3 and fig. 2). These included indirect determinations 

of discharge made at 13 continuous-record stations 

and 13 miscellaneous sites using methods described 

in the reports, "Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations of the U.S. Geological Survey," 

(Dalrymple and Benson, 1967; Matthai, 1967; 

Bodhaine, 1968; Haulsing, 1968). One current-meter 

measurement was made on Little Blue River at Lake 

City, Mo. Peak discharges were obtained from stagedischarge relationships developed at five sites. Figure 2 shows the location of the sites and the drainage 

system. Peak discharges were measured both in the 

fringe area (areas of low rainfall depth) and in 

areas of maximum rainfall. 

Cl 4000 rz 

0 

u 

LU 

en 

0::: 

LU 

a.. 

1-

I v LU 

LU 3000 u.. 

~ n r::o 

:::> 

u 

LL 

0 

en 

Cl 

z 

<( 2000 

en 

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0 

I 

1-

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u.i 

(9 

0::: \ <( 1000 r- I \ u 

I~ en 

Ci \ 

"" '-..... 

0 .JI I I I I I I I 

0 4 8 12 16 20 24 4 8 12 16 20 24 

SEPT. 12 SEPT. 13 TIME, IN HOURS 

FIGURE 17.-Discharge hydrograph at U.S. Geological Survey 

gaging station on Line Creek at Riverside, Mo., flood of 

Sept. 12, 1977. 

GENERAL SEDIMENT DEPOSITION 

Floodwaters in the Kansas City area left very few 

deposits of fine sediment (silts and fine sands) on 

the flood plains and streets because of the high velocities experienced during the flood. Large amounts of 

fine sediment, however, were deposited in the basements and on the ground-floor levels of many residential and commercial buildings. Much of the fine 

sediment, especially in the Brush Creek basin, was 

transported all the way to the Blue River. Although 

fine-sediment deposits were sparse, deposits of largesized sediment were numerous. Figures 36 and 37 

depict sediment that was transported in Brush Creek. 

The apparent source for much of the fluvial material shown in figure 36 is the Kansas part of the 

basin in the Mission Hills area. However, some of the 

material came from retaining walls and other structures that were torn out during the flood. Figure 38 
26 FLOODS IN KANSAS CITY, MO. AND KANS., SEPT. 12-13, 1977 

0 

z 300 

0 

u 

w 

(/) 

a: 

w 

a.. 

1-

w 

w 

LL. 200 

u 

co 

::J 

u 

LL. 

0 

(/) 

0 

z 

<( 100 (/) 

::J 

0 

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ui 

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a: 

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0 TIME, IN HOURS 

FIGURE 18.-Discharge hydrograph at U.S. Geological Survey 

gaging station on Blue River near Stanley, Kans., flood of 

Sept. 12-13,1977. 

shows the particle-size distribution of two deposits 

sampled near Woodland A venue bridge. These sediment samples can be considered representative of the 

large-sized material transported in the Woodland 

Avenue reach on Brush Creek. 

Flood-plain deposits in the Woodland Avenue 

reach were also sampled. The pebble-count method 

(Guy and Norman, 1970) was used to obtain a representative measure of the sediment sizes. Floodplain. deposits depicted in figure 36 had been put in a 

shallow pile by cleanup crews after the photograph 

was taken. A grid was laid out over the pile and the 

particles at the intersection points were measured. 

The intermediate dimension was recorded for, each 

particle. The sizes measured ranged from 91.4 to 960 

mm with a median size of 213 mm. Although the 

flood-plain deposits were not sampled in their original state, the results are considered to be a representative measurement. 

Many of the very large, in-channel deposits were 

imbricated (fig. 37). Such large particles probably 

were deposited soon after the flood peak. The concrete slabs shown in figure 37 had lined Brush Creek 

where it was channeled through the Country Club 

Plaza. They measure approximately 15ft square and 

are about 1.0 ft thick. These heavy slabs were dislodged from their positions in the creek bottom during the flood. 
TABLE 3.-Summary of peak stages and discharges for Kansas City area floods of Sept. 12-19, 1977 

Map 

No. 

1 

2 

8 

4 

6 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

16 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

Permanent 

station 

No. 

06821280 

06892800 

06892940 

06893080 

06893250 

06893300 

06893350 

06893500 

06893660 

06893570 

06893600 

06893670 

06893680 

06893710 

06893793 

06893890 

06894000 

06894680 

Stream and place 

of determination 

Line Creek at Riverside, Mo. (old U.S. 

Drainage area 

(mi2 ) 

Hwy. 71) ------------------------------ 19.2 

Turkey Creek at Merriam, Kans. 

(67th Street) -------------------------- 6. 76 

Turkey Creek Trib. at Carter St. at 

Merriam, Kans ------------------------ .82 

Turkey Creek at 63rd St. at Merriam, Kans _ 7.84 

Turkey Creek at Kansas City, Kans. (State 

Hwy. 10) ------------------------------ 22.3 

Blue River near Stanley, Kans. (U.S. 

Hwy. 69) ------------------------------ 46 

Indian Creek near Overland Park, Kans. 

(Morse Road) ------------------------- 14.8 

Indian Creek at Overland Park, Kans. 

(Marty Street) ------------------------ 26.6 

Tomahawk Creek near Overland Park, Kans. 

( 119th Street) ------------------------- 23.9 

Blue River near Kansas City, Mo. (old 

Bannister Road) ----------------------- 188 

Blue River Trib. at Bannister Road near Kansas City, Mo. (U.S. Hwy. 71) ------ 3.38 

Brush Creek at 75th and Nail Ave. at Prairie Village, Kans ------------------ 1.51 

Brush Creek at 63rd St. and Mission Hills, 

Kans ---------------------------------- 5.84 

Rock Creek at Woodson and Martway St. at 

Mission, Kans ------------------------- 1.15 

Rock Creek at Sheridan Road at Fairway, 

Kans ---------------------------------- 3.04 

Brush Creek at Main St. at Kansas City, 

Mo ----------------------------------- 14.8 

Round Grove Creek at Raytown Road at 

Kansas City, Mo ----------------------- 5.87 

Blue River at 12th St. at Kansas City, Mo _ 264 

Rock Creek at Independence, Mo. (Northern 

Boulevard) ---------------------------- 5.20 

Shoal Creek at Claycomo, Mo. (U.S. 

H wy. 69) ------------------------------ 29.8 

Mill Creek at 56th St. at Gladstone, Mo ___ 1.24 

Cates Branch near Liberty, Mo. (Sherril 

Drive) --------------------------------- 1.95 

Mill Creek at Courtney Road near 

Independence, Mo --------------------- 1.95 

Little Blue River below Longview Road 

Damsite at Kansas City, Mo ------------ 50.7 

Cedar Creek at Lees Summit, Mo. (ChicagoRock Island and Pacific RR) ----------- 1.84 

White Oak Creek at Raytown Road at 

Raytown, Mo -------------------------- 1.78 

Little Blue River Trib. at Noland Road at 

Independence, Mo ---------------------- 0.83 

Ea"t Fork Little Blue River near Blue 

Springs, Mo. (U.S. Hwy. 40) ----------- 34.4 

Little Blue River near Lake City, Mo. 

(Mo. Hwy. 78) ------------------------- 184 

Sni-A-Bar Creek near Tarsney, Mo. 

(Colburn Road) ------------------------ 29.1 

Tucker Creek at Highway FF near Grain 

Valley, Mo ---------------------------- 1.45 

a At site 500 ft downstream. 

II National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD). 

Period 

of 

record 

1976-

1974-

1974-

197o1970-76 

1963-

197Q194o1971-

1968-

1976-

1967-

197o1949-

1971-

Maximum previously known flood 

Date 

5-18-74 

8-26-75 

8-26-75 

6- 9-74 

6-22-69 

7-15-76 

6-25-69 

9-13-61 

6-19-67 

5-18-74 

6-27-69 

5-18-74 

9-14-61 

9-11-77 

Gage 

height 

(ft) 

29.0 

17.11 

16.31 

16.83 

21.02 

11.62 a 

19.79 

44.46 

14.22 

33.18 

11.19 

19.19 

27.94 

21.93 

Discharge 

(ft3/s) 

7,500 

3,300 

6,540 

41,000 

2,520 

9,460 

4,300 

Date 

9-13-77 

9-12-77 

9-12-77 

9-12-77 

9-12-77 

9-13-77 

9-13-77 

9-13-77 

9-13-77 

9-13-77 

9-13-77 

9-12-77 

9-12-77 

9-12-77 

9-12-77 

9-12-77 

9-13-77 

9-12-77 

9-12-77 

9-12-77 

9-12-77 

9-12-77 

9-13-77 

9-12-77 

9-12-77 

9-12-77 

9-13-77 

9-13-77 

9-13-77 

9-12-77 

Maximum flood of Sept. 12-13, 1977 

Gage 

height 

(ft) 

16.22 

21.65 

25.2 

891.22 b 

18.72 

872.38 b 

855.89 b 

788.47 b 

23.24 

841.93 b 

753.61 b 

765.87 b 

819.67 b 

774.22 b 

742.45 b 

811.67 b 

Discharge 

(ft3/s) 

4,300 

5,300 

1,200 

6,490 

11,700 

214 

1,300 

8,820 

4,290 

20,500 

4,040 

3,000 

14,400 

1,980 

4,900 

17,601) 

13,200 

34,901) 

7,760 

9,230 

800 

2,480 

2,240 

18,100 

2,410 

2,290 

2,330 

6,100 

17,000 

15,700 

1,890 

Discharge 

[ (ft3/s) /mi2] 

167 

784 

1,460 

827 

552 

6 

88 

332 

179 

109 

1,195 

1,990 

2,740 

1,720 

1,610 

1,243 

2,249 

132 

1,492 

310 

645 

1,272 

1,149 

367 

1,310 

1,286 

2,807 

145 

95.1 

540 

1,303 

Recurrence 

interval 

(years) 

6 

100 

50 

>tOO 

>tOO 

3 

>100 

8 

10 

>tOO 

>tOO 

>tOO 

26 

>100 

>tOO 

>tOO 

>100 

>tOO 

>tOO 

15 

>100 

>100 

>100 

>100 

>tOO 

>100 

20 

>100 

>100 

>tOO 

1:::1 

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0 

~ ~ 

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> r.n. 

q 

~ 

t_%.1 

~ t_%.1 

z 

1-3 

0 

l'%j 

l'%j 

tot 

0 

0 

1:::1 

r.n. 

~ 

-::1 
28 FLOODS IN KANSAS CITY, MO. AND KANS., SEPT. 12-13, 1977 

9 

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I 

u 

(/) 

0 

0 

\ 

\ 

(\ 

\ I 

1\J \ 

1\ \ 

\ \ 

\ \ 

/ ""' t--lJ ~ 1------t--t--

0 4 8 12 16 20 24 4 8 12 16 20 24 

SEP~ 12 SEP~ 13 TIME, IN HOURS 

FIGURE 19.-Discharge hydrograph at U.S. Geological 

Survey gaging station on Indian Creek at Overland 

Park, Kans., flood of Sept. 12-13, 1977. 

~ 4 

0 

u 

w 

(/) 

0::: 

w 

Q... 

1--

w 

~ 3 

~ 

Ill 

::::> 

u 

LL 

0 

(/) 

Cl 

z 2 

<( 

(/) 

::::> 

0 

I 

I-

~ 

u.i 

~1 

<( 

I 

u 

(/) 

cs 

0 

n 

~ 

\ 

I ~ \ 

1/ ~ \ 

""' !'---1---- t--r-- 1---' t--

0 4 8 12 16 20 24 4 8 12 16 20 24 

SEPT. 12 SEPT. 13 

TIME. IN HOURS 

FIGURE 20.-Discharge hydrograph at U.S. Geological 

Survey gaging station on Tomahawk Creek at Overland Park, Kans., flood of Sept. 12-13, 1977. 
DESCRIPTION AND MEASUREMENT OF FLOODS 29 

20 

0 18 

z 

0 

u 

w 

en 16 

a: 

w 

a.. 

1-

w 14 w 

u. 

~ 

a:l 

:::> 12 

u 

u. 

0 

en 

0 

z 

<( 

en 

:::> 

0 

I 

1-

z 

w~ 

(!) 

a: 

<( 

I 

u 

en 

0 

4 8 12 8 12 16 

SEPT. 12 SEPT. 13 

TIME, IN HOURS 

FIGURE 21.-Discharge hydrograph at U.S. Geological Survey gaging station on Blue River near Kansas City, Mo., 

flood of Sept. 12-13, 1977. 

18 

17 

16 

15 

0 

z 

0 14 u 

w 

en 

a: 13 

w 

a.. 

1- 12 w 

w 

u. 11 

u 

a:l 

:::> 10 u 

u. 

0 9 

en 

0 

z 8 

<( 

1\ 

~ \ en 

:::> 7 0 

\ 

I 

1- \ 

z 6 

ui 

(!) 5 

a: 

<( 

I 4 u 

en 

0 3 

~ \ 

NOTE: 

1 Dashed line indicates 

\ estimated discharge 

1 \ 

\ 

2 I\ 

\ 

1 I~ " "' 0 

0 4 8 12 16 20 24 4 8 12 16 20 24 

SEPT. 12 SEPT. 13 

TIME, IN HOURS 

FIGURE 22.-Discharge hydrograph at U.S. Geological Survey 

gaging station on Brush Creek at Main Street, Kansas City, 

Mo., flood of Sept. 12-13, 1977. 
30 FLOODS IN KANSAS CITY, MO. AND KANS., SEPT. 12-13, 1977 

15 

Cl 14 1-

z 

0 

u 13 1- w 

(/) 

a: 12 1-

w 

a.. 11 - ILU 

LU 

LL. 10 1-

~ 

co 9 I- ::::> 

u 

LL 8 1-

0 

(/) 7 I-- Cl 

z 

<( 6 (/) 

::::> 

0 

I 5 

I-

~ 4 

LU~ 

(.!) 3 a: 

<( 

I 2 u 

(/) 

Q 1 

0 I 

11 

(/) 

w 

I 

u 

~ 

~ 

:i 

Ia.. 

w 

Cl 

.....J 

.....J 

<( 

LL. 

z 

<( 

0:: 

I 

12~------------~1~-------. 

10~-----------------,~r-----------~ 

8~-----------------+r-r------------1 

6~----------~,~r-------· 

:~ 0 _d__l I I _l_ l I I I I 

11 

\ 

j I~ 12 11~ 13 

TIME, IN HOURS 

FIGURE 23.-Discharge hydrograph and mass curve of rainfall at U.S. Geological Survey gaging station on Round 

Grove Creek at Raytown, Mo., flood of Sept. 12-13, 1977. 

8 

Cl 

z 

0 

u 

LU 7 (/) 

0:: 

LU 

Q.. 

I- 6 

w 

w 

LL 

~ 5 co 

::::> 

u 

LL. 

0 4 (/) 

Cl 

z 

<( 

(/) 3 ::::> 

0 

I 

1-

~ 2 

u.i 

(.!) 

a: 

<( 

I 

u 

(/) 

iS 

0 

I I I l I 

1-

I I .lr dl.) t Note: Dashed me m 1ca es 

1 

1 

1/ 

)_ 

0 2 

estimated discharge 

{\ 

\ 

~ ~ 

4 6 

1\ (\ 

\ 1 1\ 

\ v _\ 

8 

v 

--- 1-

10 12 14 16 

SEPT. 12 

TIME, IN HOURS 

'I 

Ll 

1 

I 

I 

I 

\ 

\ 

' 

' ' 

v 

18 20 22 24 

FIGURE 24.-Discharge hydrograph at U.S. Geological Survey gaging station on Rock Creek at Independence, Mo., 

flood of Sept. 12-13, 1977. 
DESCRIPTION AND MEASUREMENT OF FLOODS 31 

9 

Cl 8 

z 

0 

u 

w 

(j) 

a: 7 w 

a.. 

1-

w 

w 

u. 6 

~ 

CJ 

::::> 

u 

u.. 

0 5 

(j) 

Q 

z 

<( 

~ 4 

0 

J: 

1-

~ 

ui 

(.9 

a: 

<( 

J: 

u 

(j) 

Ci 

0 4 8 12 16 20 24 4 8 12 16 20 

SEPT. 12 SEPT. 13 

TIME, IN HOURS 

FIGURE 25.-Discharge hydrograph at U.S. Geological Survey gaging station on Shoal Creek at Claycomo, Mo., 

flood of Sept. 12-13, 1977. 

18 

17 

16 

Q 

z 

0 15 u 

w 

(j) 14 

a: 

w 

a.. 13 

1-

w 

w 12 u. 

~ 11 co 

::::> 

u 10 

u. 

0 9 (j) 

Cl 

z 8 <( 

(j) 

::J 7 0 

J: 

1- 6 

~ 

ui 5 

(.9 

a: 

<( 4 J: 

u 

(j) 3 

Ci 

2 

0~~==~~~~~~--~_J--~~--~~ 

0 4 8 12 16 20 24 4 8 12 16 20 24 

SEPT. 12 SEPT. 13 

TIME, IN HOURS 

FIGURE 26.-Discharge hydrograph at U.S. Geological Survey gaging station on Little Blue River below Longview 

Road Damsite in Kansas City, Mo., flood of Sept. 12-13, 

1977. 
32 FLOODS IN KANSAS CITY, MO. AND KANS., SEPT. 12-13, 1977 

0 

6 6 

u 

w 

(/) 

a: 

~ 5 

1-

w 

w 

u. 

~ 4 co 

:::> 

u 

u.. 

0 3 (/) 

0 

z 

<( 

(/) 

:::::> 2 

0 

I 

1-

~ 

w~ 

(.9 

a: 

<( 

I 

u (/) 0 L-~---L--~~L__L __ _L __ L_~ __ _L __ J_ __ L_ __ 

iS . 0 4 8 12 16 20 24 4 8 12 16 20 24 

SEPT. 12 SEPT. 13 

TIME, IN HOURS 

FIGURE 27.-Discharge hydrograph at U.S. Geological Survey gaging station on East Fork Little Blue River near 

Blue Springs, Mo., flood of Sept. 12-13, 1977. 

18 

17 

16 

0 

z 15 

0 

u 

w 14 (/) 

a: 

w 13 a.. 

1-

w 12 w 

u.. 

~ 11 

co 

:::> 10 u 

u. 

0 9 

(/) 

0 8 z 

<( 

(/) 7 :::> 

0 

I 6 1-

~ 5 

ui 

(.9 

a: 4 

<{ 

I 

u 3 (/) 

iS 

2 

OL-~~-L--~--L-~--~--~~--~--~--~~ 

0 8 16 24 8 16 24 8 16 24 8 16 24 

SEPT. 12 SEPT. 13 SEPT. 14 SEPT. 15 

TIME, IN HOURS 

FIGURE 28.-Discharge hydrograph at U.S. Geological Survey gaging station on Little Blue River near Lake City, 

Mo., flood of Sept. 12-13, 1977. 
DESCRIPTION AND MEASUREMENT OF FLOODS 

16 

15 

0 

z 

0 14 

u 

w 

en 13 

a: 

w 

Q_ 12 

IUJ 

UJ 11 u.. 

~ 10 Cil 

::::> 

u 9 

u.. 

0 8 en 

0 

z 7 

<t: 

en 

e5 6 

:I: 

1- 5 

OL_~L--L--~~L-~--~==l_~ __ _L __ J_ __ L_~ 

0 4 8 12 16 20 24 4 8 12 16 20 24 

SEPT. 12 SEPT. 13 

TIME, IN HOURS 

FIGURE 29.-Discharge hydrograph at U.S. Geological Survey gaging station on Sni-A-Bar Creek near Tarsney, 

Mo., flood of Sept. 12-13, 1977. 

33 
34 FLOODS IN KANSAS CITY, MO. AND KANS., SEPT. 12-13, 1977 

O'l 

C'\1 

0') 

u.. 

0 

~ 

::J 

1-

<{ 

0 

...J 

<( 

u 

i= 

a: 

w 

> 

u 

i= 

w 

0 

0 

LU 

(.9 

...J 

<( 

z 

0 

i= 

<( 

z 740 LU 

> 0 

co 

<( 

1- 730 LU 

LU 

u.. 

~ 720 z' 

0 

i= 

<{ 

w > 710 ...J 0 LU 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 

MILES UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH OF RIVER 

FIGURE 30.-Profile of water surface of Blue River 
DESCRIPTION AND MEASUREMENT OF FLOODS 35 

~ 820.-----.------.-----.-----.------.-----~-----r----~--~--r-----.------.-----..=----.-----. 

m 

u. 

0 

~ 810 

::> 

1-

<( 

c 

...J 800 

C) 

i= 

a: 

w 

> 790 

u 

i= 

w 

0 @ 780 

(.!) 

....1 

<( 

~ 770 

i= 

<( 

z 

~ 760 

0 

Cl 

<( 

1- lli 750 u. 

~ 

z 740 0 

i= 

<( 

> w 

....1 

w 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 

MILES UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH OF RIVER 

for Sept. 12-13, 1977, and Sept. 1961 floods. 

24 25 26 27 
36 

en 

N 

en 

~ 1000 

~ 990 ::::> 

1-

;3 980 

....J 

() 970 

~ 960 w 

> 

u 950 

i= 

~ 940 

0 

~ 930 

<i. 920 

z 

0 i= 910 

<( 

z 900 w 

> 0 

al 

<( 

1-

w 

w 

u.. 

FLOODS IN KANSAS CITY, MO. AND KANS., SEPT. 12-13, 1977 

0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 

MILES UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH OF RIVER 

FIGURE 31. Profile of water surface of Rock Creek (Kans.), flood of Sept. 12-13, 1977. 
DESCRIPTION AND MEASUREMENT OF FLOODS 37 

MAGNITUDE AND FREQUENCY OF FLOODS 

Knowledge of the magnitude and probable frequency of flood recurrence is useful in the design and 

location of many types of hydraulic structures and in 

the development of criteria for flood-plain management. 

Techniques for deriving flood-frequency relations 

are those described by the U.S. Water Resources 

Council (1977) and by Hauth (1974). 

Peak discharges of the Kansas City flood were 

combined with data for other floods to obtain regional flood-frequency relations. No attempt was 

made to adjust for the effects of urbanization. Frequencies of flood discharge are estimated for recurrence intervals of 100-years or less. For greater discharges, recurrence intervals are noted only as 

"greater than 100-years." 

FLOOD VOLUMES 

During recent years, the nationwide construction 

of flood-control reservoirs and the allocation of capacity in multipurpose reservoirs for flood control 

have increased at a higher rate than other reservoir 

uses. Growth in numbers and capacity of small floodstorage projects in urban areas across the nation has 

created a need for flood-volume data from typical 

urban watersheds. 

Table 4 is a tabulation of flood volumes in acre-ft 

and in. of runoff, as computed from streamflow hydrographs available for the Kansas City area. See 

figures 17 to 29. Recurrence intervals of flood volumes given in table 4 are based on relationships developed by Skelton (1973) for rural areas. For a 

given amount of rainfall, greater flood volumes will 

occur in an urban area than in a rural area because 

of the greater area of impervious surfaces. Thus, for 

significantly urbanized basins, the recurrence intervals shown in table 4 may be too high because the 

estimates are based on rural conditions. Until more 

data are collected in urban areas of Missouri, there 

is no way to accurately adjust these frequency estimates. 

COMPARATIVE MAGNITUDE OF FLOODS 

Peak discharges of the Kansas City Sept. 1977 

flood, the July 1951 flood in Missouri and Kansas 

(U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 1139, 

1952, p. 199), and miscellaneous flood discharges experienced in Missouri and Kansas are plotted against 

their respective drainage areas for comparison (fig. 

39). 

A curve developed by Crippen and Bue (1977) on 

the basis of maximum known floods in the United 

States defines their approximate upper limit through 

1974 (fig. 39). The other curve also shown here was 

developed by Crippen and Bue using maximum floods 

in the Missouri-Kansas area, including metropolitan 

Kansas City. Peak discharges encountered in the 

Sept. 1977 flood do not approach the maximum flood 

experience in the United States. Curve values are 

more than double the highest peak flows of Sept. 

12-13, 1977. However, the Sept. 1977 flood does approach maximum flood experience in the MissouriKansas area. 

SUMMARY 

Two record-setting rainstorms occurred in the 

metropolitan Kansas City area on Sept. 12-13, 1977. 

Storm runoff claimed the lives of 25 people and 

caused over $80 million in damages. The U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service 

cooperated to document the meteorological and hydrological aspects of the flood. 

Average rainfall over the metropolitan area exceeded 10 in. with a maximum of more than 16 in. 

Total storm rainfall of 9.39 in. at Kansas City International Airport exceeded the 100-year 2-day 

amount of 8.8 in. Maximum storm rainfall of 16.15 

in., in approximately 36 hr, exceeded the 100-year 

10-day rain of 13.0 in. The combination of meteorological factors associated with the storms are discussed. Isohyetal maps of storm rainfall are presented. Rainfall estimates, using satellite infrared 

imagery, are found to be consistent with the result 

of depth-area analysis using conventional data. 
38 

~ 880 m 

~ 

u... 

0 

::2: 

::J 860 

1-

~ 

...J 

tS 

i= 840 a: 

w 

> 

u 

i= 

~ 820 

0 

UJ 

(.!) 

...J 

<( 

z 800 

0 

i= 

<( 

z 

w 6 780 ca 

<( 

1-

w 

w 

u... 760 

~ 

z' 

0 

~ 740 

UJ 

...J 

w 

FLOODS IN KANSAS CITY, MO. AND KANS., SEPT. 12-13. 1977 

"0 

Ct! 

0 

0:: 

Q) 

.= 

C/) 

Ct! 

C/) 

c 

Ct! 

¥ '§ 

0 

C/) 

.~ 

::2: 

I- - Bridge floor elevations 

720~------------~-------------L ____________ _L ____________ _....JL_ ____________ ~----------~ 

0 2 3 4 5 

MILES UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH OF RIVER 

FIGURE 32.-Profi.les of water surface of Brush 
a 

1-j 

(!) 

~ 

~ 

~ 

~ 

= 

0 

0 

p.. 

a. 

Ul 

(!) 

ld 

r+" 

..... 

!.'.:) 

I 

..... 

~CJ:J 

..... 

co 

-=1 

~ 

s:: 

r= 

m 

CJ) 

c 

"'tJ 

CJ) 

-I 

O'l 

-...,J 

:x:J 00 m 

)> 

s:: 

..,., 

:x:J 

0 

s:: 

s:: 

0 

c 

-I 

I t0 

0 

..,., 

:IJ 

< 

m 

::0 

~ 

0 

_,. 

..... 

00 

N 

0 

ELEVATION, IN FEET ABOVE NATIONAL GEODETIC VE

~ 

1----4 

I 

I 

~ 

0: 

co 

CD 

-0 

Q 

CD 

CD" 

< 

~ 

o· 

:::::l 

Ill 

00 

(j) 

0 

tO 

N 

0 

\--- Missouri-Kansas State line Road 

~ -- Mission Hills Country Club Road 

\ 

\ 

\ 

\ --/ State Park Road 

\--..._ Rock Creek 

\ 

\ 

"--Indian Lane 

''""',, Indian Lane ~ \ 63rd Street 

-~ \~ 

~ ~~ ~ % ~~ ~ . ~ \~ 

~~ \~ ~% \~ ~0 \~ . ,~ 

.... \- T

n-- 

\ --

.. ',--

\

75th Street ~ 

79th Street and 
40 FLOODS IN KANSAS CITY, MO. AND KANS., SEPT. 12-13, 1977 

0') 

N 910 0') C>Q) 

900 "'C C::J 

u.. ro c"E =c Q) '-Q) 0 ::J a: 

0 .._ ro ~> 890 c Q) > cn<t. ~ Q) 'd>t:: ..c.Q) 

I 

::J > ~g_ t::-

0 ::J 1- 880 Q) < zo <!. ::J cnt; c "'C m Cl Q) 0 "CQ) 

I 

870 > ...J 0 M~ <!. <!. ~ 

II u 860 c ro i= 0 ~ a: 0 

I w 850 "'C .!: , -

Q) 

> ro ~ / Q) 

u 840 0 

a: / ~ i= c 

I 

/ w £ ro //, Cl 830 "'C E 0 

0 ro Q) M Q) 0 w ::J ::J 

820 ::J a: .= / c ~ c "'C 

,/.'l/1) 

Q) 

Q) ro Q) 

I 

> "'C ...J > 0 <( 0 <( 810 <( a: c 

- 0 z c c 0 ~ c ~ 0 ~ 800 0 ,/ f! e 0 

~ (..) 

~ z .a ~ I Q) 

z 790 c 

Q) \¢/" ~ > 

I 

w ~ 

\'};~!,- > 780 

I y-~<:t-Jrr-- ,}"'"'fiji 0 

m 

1-

< 770 y <(-~~ ~ 

u.. 

w 

w 760 ___ .f .. / ~ 

~ 750 

1 /x wlP z I - - Bridge floor elevation 

0 740 

i= 

<( 730 

> 

w 

w 

...J 720 

0 2 3 4 5 

MILES UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH OF RIVER 

FIGURE 33.-Profile of water surface of Rock Creek (Mo.), flood of Sept. 12-13, 1977. 
DESCRIPTION AND MEASUREMENT OF FLOODS 41 

TABLE 4.-Summary of flood volumes for Kansas City area floods, Sept. 12-18, 1977 

Volume of flood event Map Recurrence interval, 

No. Permanent Drainage Flows in acre-ft Total storm in years a 

(see station area fig.2) No. Stream and place of determination (mi2 ) Sept. 12 Sept. 13 Acre-ft In. Sept. 12 Sept. 13 

1 06821280 Line Creek at Riverside, Mo ----- 19.2 1,770 2,973 4,743 4.60 7 13 b 

6 06893080 Blue River near Stanley, Kans --- 46.0 164 .06 <2b 

8 06893300 Indian Creek at Overland Park, Kans ------------------------- 26.6 1,558 3,817 5,375 3.79 2 18 

9 06893350 Tomahawk Creek near Overland 

Park, Kans ------------------- 23.9 371 1,716 2,087 1.64 70 

10 06893500 Blue River near Kansas City, Mo _ 188 7,423 22,049 29,472 2.94 7 

16 06893560 Brush Creek at Main Street at Kansas City, Mo -------------- 14.8 1,910 6,254 8,164 10.34 13 >100 

17 06893570 Round Grove Creek at Raytown 

Road at Kansas City, Mo ------ 5.87 1,206 1,662 2,868 9.16 40 100 

19 06893600 Rock Creek at Independence, Mo - 5.20 1,540 968 2,508 9.04 >100 25 

20 06893670 Shoal Creek at Claycomo, Mo ---- 29.8 4,078 4,530 8,608 5.42 12 13 

24 06893793 Little Blue River at Longview 

Road Damsite at Kansas City, Mo --------------------------- 50.7 9,940 9,940 3.68 19 

28 06893890 East Fork Little Blue River near Blue Springs, Mo ------------- 34.4 7,398 8.06 20 

29 06894000 Little Blue River at Lake City, Mo --------------------------- 184 26,514 2.70 10 b 

30 06894680 Sni-A-Bar Creek at Tarsney, Mo - 29.1 9,548 3,772 13,320 8.58 (C) 15 

a Based on relationships for rural areas. b Volume includes total storm period. c Flood volume-frequency relationship not available for given storm duration. 
42 FLOODS IN KANSAS CITY, MO. AND KANS., SEPT. 12-13, 1977 

a> 

~ 830.--.---.---.--.-------.-~--~---.--~--r-~.-~--~---.--.---r-~.-~---.--.---.---.--.---, 

u. 

0 820 

~ 

=> I-

<( 

0 

.....J 

810 

800 

<( 

u i= 790 a: 

~ 780 

u 

ti:i 770 

0 

0 

~ 760 

<J. 750 

z 

0 

i= 740 

<( 

z 

UJ 

> 0 

Ill 

<( 

tu 710 w 

u. 

~ 700 

z 

0 

~ > 

UJ 

.....J 

UJ 

--

2 

a: 

a: 

Q) 

u. 

;g 

c 

ro "'0 en ro 

-o"'O 0 

cro a: roO a: ~ 

~> ..Q 

Q)Q) 0 c.::o I 0·-

1-CfJ > C:c a. 00 Q. 

en- ro ·- ,_ I ~Q) 

u~ I 

_;---- 1i ~----

"'0 

ro 

0 

a: 

!!2 

~ 

Q) 

::I 

a: 

a: 

(.) "'0 <;:::: ro ·u o o:::t ro a: NO.. ::I 

>·..!.. ~ 

~::; ~ I g -g 

u) .!!? ::I 

en 

I 

~~ I -~-L--

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 

MILES UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH OF RIVER 

FIGURE 34.-Profiles of water surface of 
en 

N 

0> 

LL 

0 

~ 

::J 

1-

<( 

Cl 

.....1 

<( 

u 

i= 

a: 

w 

> 

u 

i= 

w 

Cl 

0 

w 

(.!) 

...J 

<( 

z 

0 

i= 

<( 

z 

1-

w 

w 

LL 

~ 

z 

0 

i= 

<( 

> w 

.....1 

w 

900 

890 

880 

870 

860 

850 

840 

830 

820 

810 

800 

790 

780 

770 

760 

750 

(/) 

(/) 

Ctl 

0.. 

> m 

-c 

Ctl 

0 

a: 

E 

E 

:::J 

(/) 

DESCRIPTION AND MEASUREMENT OF FLOODS 

-c Octl 

L!) 0 

~~ ::r: c: 

Ctl 

u)o 

::)Z 

-c 

Ctl 

0 

a: 

.... 

.& 

.~ 

c: 

c: 

Ctl 

ClJ 

a: 

a: 

740~~--~--~~---L--~--~-L--~--~~---L--~~L__L __ ...J_~ 

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 

MILES UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH OF RIVER 

Little Blue River, flood of Sept. 12-13, 1977. 

43 
44 FLOODS IN KANSAS CITY, MO. AND KANS., SEPT. 12-13, 1977 

Base map by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 

Kansas City district 

FIGURE 35.-Boundary of Sept. 12-13, 1977, flood along Brush Creek between Main Street and Jefferson Street, Kansas City, 

Mo. 
DESCRIPTION AND MEASUREMENT OF FLOODS 45 

FIGURE 36.-Recently deposited gravel and scattered coarse 

material on left (north) Brush Creek flood plain approximately 1,000 ft downstream from Woodland Avenue bridge, 

Kansas City, Mo. 

100 

90 

fI 

~ 80 w 

~ 

....J 70 

<t 

1-

0 

f- 60 u.. 

0 

f- 50 z 

w 

u 

a: 

w 40 a.. 

w 

> 

t= 30 

<t 

....J 

:::> 

~ 20 :::> 

u 

10 

FIGURE 37.-Channel-bed slabs and car in Brush Creek stream 

channel immediately downstream from Rockhill Road 

bridge, Kansas City, Mo. 

PARTICLE SIZE, IN MILLIMETERS 

FIGURE 38.-Particle-size distribution of sediment deposits in Brush Creek in the vicinity of Woodland Avenue bridge in Kansas 

City, Mo. 
46 

0 

z 

0 

u 

w 

(J) 

100 a: 

w 

a.. 

1-

w 

w 

u.. 

~ 

Ill 

:J 

u 

u.. 

0 

(J) 

0 

z 

<{ 10 

(J) 

:J 

0 

I 

1-

z 

w 

(.9 

a: 

<{ 

I 

u 

(J) 

6 

0.1 

FLOODS IN KANSAS CITY, MO. AND KANS., SEPT. 12-13, 1977 

" 

! 

• 0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1.0 10.0 

DRAINAGE AREA, IN SQUARE MILES 

• 

0 

100 

0 

0 

0 

EXPLANATION 

o Peak discharge: 

September 12-13, 1977 

• Peak discharge: 

July 1951 

" Previous peak 

discharge in 

Missouri-Kansas 

area 

1000 

FIGURE 39.-Comparison of Sept. 12- 13, 1977, peak discharges to upper limits of known floods in Missouri-Kansas area and in 

the United States. 
REFERENCES CITED 47 

Thirteen U.S. Geological Survey stream-gaging 

stations in operation during the flood provided information on flood volumes and peak discharges. Recurrence intervals of flood volumes experienced in 

areas of greatest rainfall, such as Brush Creek and 

Round Grove Creek, were greater than the regional 

100..:year estimates. In surrounding areas, the decreasing magnitude of recurrence intervals reflected 

the basins' distance from the center of the two 

storms. The second storm caused the greater flood 

damage because the first storm had saturated the 

drainage basins. 

Peak discharges were determined at 31 locations 

in the Kansas City, Mo.-Kans. area. Recurrence intervals exceeded 100-years in many areas. 

Floodflows occurring on Sept. 12-13, 1977, are 

considered comparable to other major floods which 

have been documented in Missouri and Kansas, but 

are not as great as those experienced In other areas 

of the United States. 

REFERENCES CITED 

Bodhaine, G. L., 1968, Measurement of peak discharge at culverts by indirect methods, chap. A3 of bk. 3, Applications 

of hydraulics: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of 

Water-Resources Investigations, 60 p. 

Cheng, N. and Rodenhuis, D., 1977, An intercomparison of 

satellite images and radar rainfall rates: University of 

Maryland, Meteorology Program, Publ. 77-166, 60 p. 

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-tr U;S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1981-341-614/183