Flash Flood Emergency Declared for Trenton as Missouri Counties Battered by Severe Storms
Emergency officials declare flash flood emergency for Trenton after storms dump up to 7.5 inches of rain across Missouri counties.
TRENTON, MISSOURI — Emergency management officials declared a flash flood emergency for Trenton and southern Grundy County late Thursday night after thunderstorms dropped between 5.5 and 7.5 inches of rain, causing numerous roads to flood and buckle across north central Missouri.
The National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill issued a flash flood warning at 9:35 p.m. Central Daylight Time Thursday, warning residents of “life threatening flash flooding” and urging people to “seek higher ground now.” The warning remained in effect until 3:30 a.m. Friday.
“This is a particularly dangerous situation,” according to the National Weather Service warning. Emergency management reported that flash flooding was already occurring when the warning was issued, with another line of storms expected to bring additional extremely heavy rainfall.
Additional Rainfall Expected
Weather officials warned that the incoming storm system could produce rainfall rates of 1.5 to 2.5 inches per hour. Additional rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches were possible across the warned area, which covers central Grundy County in north central Missouri.
The severe weather system spawned multiple thunderstorm warnings throughout the evening, affecting counties across the region. At 9:32 p.m., a severe thunderstorm was located near Galt, approximately 8 miles northeast of Trenton, moving east at 35 mph with 60 mph wind gusts and half dollar-size hail.
Multiple Counties Under Severe Weather Warnings
The National Weather Service issued a series of severe thunderstorm warnings affecting north central Missouri counties including Linn, Grundy, Sullivan, Putnam, Daviess, Gentry, DeKalb, Mercer, and Harrison counties. The storms brought hazardous conditions including ping pong ball-size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.
Communities impacted by the severe weather included Milan, Browning, Spickard, Galt, Humphreys, Tindall, Osgood, Reger, Pollock, Harris, Gilman City, Brimson, Modena, Mill Grove, King City, Pattonsburg, Mcfall, Fairport, and Santa Rosa.
At 8:55 p.m., severe thunderstorms were positioned along a line extending from near Princeton to 7 miles southwest of Spickard to near Gilman City, moving southeast at 20 mph. Weather radar indicated the potential for hail damage to vehicles and wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees throughout the affected areas.
Emergency officials warned that people and animals outdoors could be injured by the severe weather conditions, particularly from the large hail and damaging winds accompanying the storm system.
