Flash flooding in KC part of national record-setting trend

Last week's flooding across the Midwest and East continues a record-setting trend of flash flood warnings issued by the National Weather Service.

Why it matters: The numbers reflect an especially rainy season, including in Kansas City, where four to six weeks' worth of typical rainfall descended within 12 hours, KSHB reported.

By the numbers: NWS offices issued 3,160 flash flood warnings nationwide this year through July 16, according to a tracker at Iowa State University's Iowa Environmental Mesonet.

• That's the most for that period in any year since records began in 1986.
• Flash flood warnings are issued when such an event is imminent or already occurring.
• Kansas City has had 21 warnings in 2025 so far — a little below average — but that doesn't speak to the volume of rain during these events.

Stunning stat: More than 2 inches of rain fell in Kansas City on both Wednesday and Thursday, marking only the 12th time of consecutive 2-inch rains in 137 years, according to NWS.

What they're saying: "It's a 1 in 500 year type of event," KC's Fox 4 Weather said on X about the July 17 rainfall in Johnson County.

• "2025 has been the year of the flood," Miami meteorologist Michael Lowry writes.

What's next: With local river levels already high, more flash flood warnings could be close at hand.

Go deeper: Why flash floods are becoming more common