A large upper trough with a closed upper low slowly moved east across the Central United States March 17th through the 19th. This allowed a strong southerly flow to transport copious amounts of moisture from the deep south into the Midwest.  Several waves of low pressure moved along a nearly stationary frontal boundary that remained just south of the forecast area, across northern Arkansas and extreme southern Illinois. Several rounds of rain and thunderstorms brought locally heavy rainfall to much of the forecast area, with the greatest amounts confined along and south of Interstate 44 in Missouri and Interstate 70 in Illinois. Total rainfall ranged from less than an inch across portions of west central Illinois to almost 10 inches in southern Reynolds County, Missouri. The excessive rainfall led to flash flooding of low lying areas and major flooding on local rivers and creeks for the next week. Many people were affected by this event, with millions of dollars in damage recorded across the forecast area.

Hail in WASHINGTON, MISSOURI
From 17-MAR-08 07:10:00 to 17-MAR-08 07:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: IRONDALE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Flash Flood in MADISON, MISSOURI
From 18-MAR-08 09:51:00 to 19-MAR-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: HIGDON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Up to 6 inches of rain fell on already saturated soils in Madison county from the late evening hours of March 17th through March 18th.  Numerous roads were covered with water countywide.

Flash Flood in STE. GENEVIEVE, MISSOURI
From 18-MAR-08 04:00:00 to 18-MAR-08 04:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: STE GENEVIEVE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Two to three inches of rain fell onto already saturated soils in Ste. Genevieve county from the evening hours of March 17th through March 18th. Numerous low water crossings were flooded.

Flash Flood in ST. FRANCOIS, MISSOURI
From 18-MAR-08 03:00:00 to 18-MAR-08 04:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: SILVER SPGS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Two to three inches of rain fell onto already saturated soils in St. Francois county from the evening hours of March 17th through March 18th. Numerous low water crossings in the northern portions of the county were flooded.

Flash Flood in WASHINGTON, MISSOURI
From 18-MAR-08 03:00:00 to 18-MAR-08 04:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: PEA RIDGE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Two to three inches of rain fell onto already saturated soils in Washington county from the evening hours of March 17th through March 18th. Numerous roads and low water crossings were flooded including streets in Potosi, Highway 47 at Kingston Road northwest of Cruise Mill, and New Diggins Road in Springtown.

Flash Flood in CRAWFORD, MISSOURI
From 18-MAR-08 01:00:00 to 18-MAR-08 04:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: JAKE PRAIRIE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Two to three inches of rain fell onto already saturated soils in Crawford county from the evening hours of March 17th through March 18th. Numerous roads were flooded including Highway 19 southeast of Steelville.

Flash Flood in BOONE, MISSOURI
From 17-MAR-08 13:39:00 to 17-MAR-08 15:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: CENTRALIA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Up to three inches of rain fell in a short amount of time over northern Boone county on March 17th.  Several secondary roads were flooded including Highway CC at the intersection with Tri City Road, just west of Centralia.

Flash Flood in REYNOLDS, MISSOURI
From 18-MAR-08 06:00:00 to 19-MAR-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: GREELEY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 400.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Very heavy rain fell over Reynolds county beginning late on the 17th of March and throughout the day on the 18th. The co-operative observer in Ellington reported a storm total of 9.7 inches. Four inches of rain fell in Ellington through 8 am on the 18th, then another 2 inches fell between 8 am and 11 am on the 18th, with an additional 3.7 inches in the hours after that. This caused the creeks in the area to rise rapidly including Logan Creek which flows through the middle of Ellington.  The creek began to rise rapidly around 7 am, rising nearly 10 feet by noon. Around 8 am, an 81 year old man was trying to clear some flood debris from a bridge that goes over the creek next to his business and was possibly knocked into the flood waters by a camper trailer that had been washed away from its location.  He was pronounced dead at 830 am.  A number of homes and businesses were flooded in town and several propane tanks were floating in the flood waters. Numerous roads throughout Reynolds county were flooded due to the heavy rains.

Hail in ST. FRANCOIS, MISSOURI
From 17-MAR-08 07:19:00 to 17-MAR-08 07:19:00 (CST-6)
Location: EAST BONNE TERRE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Hail in WASHINGTON, MISSOURI
From 17-MAR-08 07:08:00 to 17-MAR-08 07:08:00 (CST-6)
Location: POTOSI
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Flash Flood in IRON, MISSOURI
From 18-MAR-08 07:00:00 to 19-MAR-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: VULCAN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 200.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Up to 6 inches of rain fell on already saturated soils in Iron county from the late evening hours of March 17th through March 18th.  Numerous roads were covered with water countywide.  Also, 8 to 10 homes in Des Arc were flooded and the bridge north of town on Highway 143 was washed out.  In the Ironton/Arcadia area, Knob Creek and Stouts Creek were out of their banks and overtopping the bridge that goes over them.  Highway D, Highway 21 were impassable in spots and Highway 49 about half a mile south of Highway 72 was flooded.

Hail in CRAWFORD, MISSOURI
From 17-MAR-08 07:55:00 to 17-MAR-08 07:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: STEELVILLE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
From 17-MAR-08 09:20:00 to 17-MAR-08 09:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: SOUTH BELLEFONTAINE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter