A couple of large complexes of thunderstorms moved along or just north of a stationary frontal boundary situated over Southern Kansas, during the early morning hours of August 4th and August 5th, 2012.   Abundant moisture running over the top of this boundary, and the slow movement and back building of the complex of storms led to widespread flash flooding across portions of Central Kansas from Hutchinson to Newton to the Flint Hills. The hardest hit areas were over Hutchinson, which received 6.7 inches of rainfall in a six hour period, and across Barton and Rice counties, which had reports of 4 to 5 inches. The city streets were overwhelmed with heavy rainfall over a short period of time, which led to numerous stalled cars, flooded basements and evacuations.  This heavy rainfall was a continuation of a stagnant weather pattern that brought heavy rainfall to the area beginning the last week of July, 2012 and continued into early August.  This relentless heavy rainfall pattern led to river flooding, and widespread flash flooding.

Flood in SEDGWICK, KANSAS
From 04-AUG-13 10:31:00 to 04-AUG-13 12:31:00 (CST-6)
Location: WICHITA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Cars were stalled along Meridan and Harry from water over the roads.

Flash Flood in BARTON, KANSAS
From 04-AUG-13 08:27:00 to 04-AUG-13 11:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: GREAT BEND
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Antelope creek ran out of its banks near US Highway 281 and Southeast 20th Road.

Flood in ALLEN, KANSAS
From 04-AUG-13 10:39:00 to 04-AUG-13 12:39:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELSMORE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Low water crossings had water over them across the county.

Flash Flood in WILSON, KANSAS
From 05-AUG-13 01:38:00 to 05-AUG-13 06:38:00 (CST-6)
Location: FREDONIA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Street flooding was reported all across Fredonia.

Flood in LABETTE, KANSAS
From 04-AUG-13 10:44:00 to 04-AUG-13 12:44:00 (CST-6)
Location: PARSONS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Water was over numerous low water crossings.

Flood in SALINE, KANSAS
From 04-AUG-13 15:09:00 to 04-AUG-13 17:09:00 (CST-6)
Location: MENTOR
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: County Official

County roads southeast of Salina had water over them.

Flash Flood in RENO, KANSAS
From 04-AUG-13 00:31:00 to 04-AUG-13 05:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: SOUTH HUTCHINSON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.44M
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Extreme street flooding and flash flooding occurred across the area, as 6 to 7 inches of rainfall fell over Hutchinson and Nickerson during the early morning hours.  Numerous cars stalled out and were abandoned on city streets, with widespread basement flooding reported.  During a 90 minute period, between 130am and 3am, some locations in Hutchinson picked up 3 to 5 inches of rainfall.  At least 325 homes in the city of Hutchinson reported some property damage due to flooding, with 10 to 24 of the homes receiving major damage.  150 residents from a nursing home in Northwest Hutchinson were evacuated to a local hospital, because water was coming into the building.  The water on city streets was so deep, at times, that large military type vehicles could not venture down the roads.

Flood in BARTON, KANSAS
From 04-AUG-13 16:01:00 to 04-AUG-13 18:01:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELLINWOOD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Streets were flooded north of 7th street. A few basements were flooded in the northeast part of town.

Flash Flood in WILSON, KANSAS
From 05-AUG-13 03:54:00 to 05-AUG-13 07:54:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEODESHA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Numerous rural roads were reported under water and impassible due to extremely heavy rainfall.

Flood in RICE, KANSAS
From 05-AUG-13 06:09:00 to 05-AUG-13 08:09:00 (CST-6)
Location: LYONS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Numerous county roads were impassible from high water. Kansas Highway 14 was partially covered with water.

Flood in RICE, KANSAS
From 04-AUG-13 13:30:00 to 04-AUG-13 17:01:00 (CST-6)
Location: STERLING
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Flooding continued along Cow Creek. A few homes had water in the basement.

Flash Flood in BARTON, KANSAS
From 04-AUG-13 08:05:00 to 04-AUG-13 10:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELLINWOOD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Flooding occurred on the north side of Ellinwood, north of 7th street. Water was reported up to the front of doors and window wells on homes.

Flash Flood in WILSON, KANSAS
From 05-AUG-13 03:54:00 to 05-AUG-13 07:54:00 (CST-6)
Location: FREDONIA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Extreme street flooding and standing water from very heavy rainfall, led to some evacuations in Fredonia from rising water.

Flood in HARVEY, KANSAS
From 05-AUG-13 06:12:00 to 05-AUG-13 08:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: HESSTON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

There were numerous water covered roads, especially across the western half of the county.

Flood in WILSON, KANSAS
From 05-AUG-13 06:38:00 to 05-AUG-13 08:38:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEODESHA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A few low water crossings were underwater.

Flood in BARTON, KANSAS
From 04-AUG-13 14:49:00 to 04-AUG-13 16:49:00 (CST-6)
Location: GREAT BEND
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Several county roads southwest of Great Bend had water over them.

Flood in SALINE, KANSAS
From 04-AUG-13 08:27:00 to 04-AUG-13 10:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: MENTOR
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Roads along the Smoky Hill River were water covered.

Flash Flood in ALLEN, KANSAS
From 05-AUG-13 06:38:00 to 05-AUG-13 08:38:00 (CST-6)
Location: PETROLIA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Low water crossings were reported under water in Neodesha.

Flood in MCPHERSON, KANSAS
From 04-AUG-13 08:27:00 to 04-AUG-13 10:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: MC PHERSON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Several county roads had water over them.

Flood in RICE, KANSAS
From 05-AUG-13 10:14:00 to 05-AUG-13 12:14:00 (CST-6)
Location: LYONS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Water was reported over Kansas Highway 14 south of Lyons.

Flood in RUSSELL, KANSAS
From 04-AUG-13 08:27:00 to 04-AUG-13 11:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: WILSON LAKE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: County Official

Several county roads across the county had water over them.

Flood in SEDGWICK, KANSAS
From 04-AUG-13 08:55:00 to 04-AUG-13 11:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: CLEARWATER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Numerous rural and county roads were water covered along the Ninnescah River and its tributaries.

Flash Flood in RICE, KANSAS
From 04-AUG-13 03:34:00 to 04-AUG-13 05:34:00 (CST-6)
Location: STERLING
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Numerous reports of street flooding or water over the roads were reported in Sterling and Chase, Kansas.  Almost two inches of rain fell in Sterling in a less than a 90 minute period.

Flood in BUTLER, KANSAS
From 04-AUG-13 10:28:00 to 04-AUG-13 12:28:00 (CST-6)
Location: EL DORADO RES
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Water covered a few county roads.

Flood in RENO, KANSAS
From 04-AUG-13 10:01:00 to 04-AUG-13 12:01:00 (CST-6)
Location: PLEVNA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A few small bridges were washed out near Plevna.

Flash Flood in ELLSWORTH, KANSAS
From 04-AUG-13 01:55:00 to 04-AUG-13 05:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: WILSON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 1.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

High water caused the closing of old Highway 40 between Ellsworth and Wilson due to water over the road. Numerous rural roads were impassible due to high water.  Highway 14 north of Ellsworth also closed due to high water.

Flash Flood in BARTON, KANSAS
From 04-AUG-13 01:57:00 to 04-AUG-13 05:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: CLAFLIN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

High water was reported by law enforcement, over Highway K-4 near Claflin.

Flash Flood in BARTON, KANSAS
From 04-AUG-13 04:04:00 to 04-AUG-13 06:04:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELLINWOOD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Several homes reported basement flooding. Several roads were closed between Ellinwood and Great Bend due to high water flowing over the road.

Flash Flood in BARTON, KANSAS
From 04-AUG-13 04:05:00 to 04-AUG-13 08:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: GREAT BEND
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 350.00K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Numerous stalled cars were reported across town from high water. Some water rescues occurred in town from people in stalled cars.  Great Bend Airport reported 4.49 inches of rainfall in less than a 6 hour period.

Flash Flood in ELLSWORTH, KANSAS
From 04-AUG-13 02:07:00 to 04-AUG-13 05:07:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELLSWORTH
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Highway 14 was closed north of Ellsworth due to very high water flowing across the road.

Flash Flood in RENO, KANSAS
From 04-AUG-13 01:23:00 to 04-AUG-13 04:23:00 (CST-6)
Location: HUTCHINSON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.10K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Multiple streets flooded and numerous cars flooded and stalled, throughout town, blocking streets.

Flash Flood in RENO, KANSAS
From 04-AUG-13 10:10:00 to 04-AUG-13 13:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: HUTCHINSON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Significant flooding occurred along Cow Creek in Hutchinson, with numerous evacuations from high water.

Flash Flood in RICE, KANSAS
From 04-AUG-13 10:10:00 to 04-AUG-13 13:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: SAXMAN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.10K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Evacuations occurred along Cow Creek due to rapidly rising water.