Cold front brings slow moving thunderstorms and heavy rain to extreme southern portions of south central Nebraska during the late afternoon and evening of July 26. Thunderstorms developed between 3pm and 4pm CDT from southwest to northeast, generally along a line from Rooks County in north central Kansas, to Thayer County in south central Nebraska. Once thunderstorms developed, heavy rain quickly became the main concern, though a few non-severe wind gusts around 50 to 55 mph were reported across north central Kansas early on in the event. The heavy rain threat was driven by several factors, including: weak mid and upper level winds which resulted in slow storm motion, training of thunderstorms over the same areas for several hours, and unusually high atmospheric moisture levels. In fact, precipitable water values were near 2��� on this evening, which is near 3 standard deviations above normal and in the upper 90th percentile of climatology. Heavy rain rates of 1-2��� per hour, or higher, were common under the strongest thunderstorm cores, especially between the hours of 4pm and 9pm CDT. Thunderstorms gradually decreased in intensity during the late evening as the persistent convection over the same areas and loss of daytime heating led to decreasing instability. The majority of the lingering light rain ended by midnight.
Heavy rain occurred across most of north central Kansas, with the exception of northern Phillips County and northern Smith County. Storm total rain amounts by the morning of July 27th of 3-4.5��� inches were common, with an isolated maximum of 6-7��� reported in south central Osborne County. The highest reported rain amount was 6.72��� measured by an NWS Cooperative Observer located 9 miles north-northeast of Natoma, KS. The primary impact from the heavy rain was water affecting county roads. Just north of Randall, KS, the flooding contributed to a car losing control and ending up in the ditch, with the driver needing to be rescued.

Flash Flood in OSBORNE, KANSAS
From 26-JUL-20 17:00:00 to 26-JUL-20 22:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALTON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Storm total rainfall amounts ranged from 4 to 7 inches across the area. The primary impact was water affecting county roads.

Heavy Rain in JEWELL, KANSAS
From 26-JUL-20 06:00:00 to 27-JUL-20 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: FORMOSO
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A 24-hour total rainfall amount of 4.18 inches was recorded by a CoCoRaHS Observer located in Formoso.

Heavy Rain in OSBORNE, KANSAS
From 26-JUL-20 06:00:00 to 27-JUL-20 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: NATOMA
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A 24-hour total rainfall amount of 4.62 inches was recorded by a CoCoRaHS Observer located 7 miles north-northeast of Natoma.

Heavy Rain in OSBORNE, KANSAS
From 26-JUL-20 06:00:00 to 27-JUL-20 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: NATOMA
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A 24-hour total rainfall amount of 4.46 inches was recorded by the NWS Cooperative Observer in Natoma.

Heavy Rain in OSBORNE, KANSAS
From 26-JUL-20 06:00:00 to 27-JUL-20 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: NATOMA
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A 24-hour total rainfall amount of 6.72 inches was recorded by the NWS Cooperative Observer located 9 miles north-northeast of Natoma.

Flash Flood in JEWELL, KANSAS
From 26-JUL-20 19:00:00 to 27-JUL-20 01:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: SALEM
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Storm total rainfall amounts ranged from 4 to 7 inches across the area. Law enforcement reported that multiple roads were closed to running water. Just north of Randall, a car left the road and ended up in the ditch, with the driver needing rescued.