Hydrology
The mission of the National Weather Service includes actions to mitigate the loss of life and property by providing the nation with timely flood warnings and forecasts. The National Weather Service office in Springfield works along with various River Forecast Centers to provide southeast Kansas along with southern and central Missouri with flash flood and river flood products. The hydrologic service area for our office includes 3 counties in extreme southeast Kansas, and 34 counties across central and southern Missouri
Routine Products:
Precipitation Summary (RRMSGF RTPSGF): These products is produced each morning and includes precipitation, both rain and snow, from cooperative observers, volunteer observers and automatic precipitation gages.
Volunteer Weather Observation Report (PNSSGF): This product is produced each morning and includes 24 hour maximum/minimum temperatures and precipitation amounts.
River Summary (RVASGF): This product is produced each morning and includes the most recent stage data and 24 hour change in stage for several locations across southern and central Missouri. Lake stage data and 24 hour change in stage are located at the bottom of the product.
River Forecasts (RVASGF RVDSGF): There are two rivers that have daily forecasts each morning, this product gives the expected stage for the next five days for the following locations:
Jack's Fork River at Eminence, MO
James River at Galena, MO
The forecasts given are provided by the River Forecast Center in Slidell, Louisiana and include the effects of forecast precipitation over the next 24 hours.
Non-Routine Products:
Hydrologic Outlook: Issued to alert the public when flood producing rainfall is expected in 36 to 72 hours. Also, if drought conditions are developing and/or will continue. In addition, during the months of February and March, this product contains information on the potential for flooding from snowmelt.
Flash Flood/Flood Watch: Issued when conditions are favorable for areal and/or river flooding and/or flash flooding to develop.
Flash Flood/Flood Warning: Issued when flooding is imminent or reported. As a rule of thumb, flash flooding usually develops within six hours of heavy rainfall, while flooding is a longer-term phenomenon, usually taking more than six hours to develop. Also, flash flooding is usually associated with strong thunderstorms which produce heavy rainfall over a short period of time, while flooding generally occurs when the heavy rainfall has ended and light to moderate rain continues, or a prolonged period of moderate to occasionally heavy rain occurs.
Flash Flood Statement: Issued to follow up on or cancel a Flash Flood Warning.
Flood Advisory: Issued when minor flooding problems are expected, namely in flood prone urban areas or near small streams that rise out of their banks.
River Flood Warnings: Issued when larger rivers and streams are expected to rise above flood stage, based on observed or forecast precipitation.
River Flood Statement: Issued to update previous river flood warnings and make minor changes to the crest forecast.
River Statement: Issued to inform the public of notable hydrologic conditions, usually within-bank rises.
The table below are specific river forecast points that our office provides during times of river flooding.
| Big Piney River at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri | Elk River at Tiff City, Missouri | Gasconade River at Hazelgreen, Missouri |
| Gasconade River at Jerome, Missouri | Jack's Fork River at Eminence, Missouri | James River at Galena, Missouri |
| Little Osage River at Horton, Missouri | Marmaton River at Ft. Scott, Kansas | Marmaton River at Nevada, Missouri |
| North Fork White River at Tecumseh, Missouri | Osage River at Schell City, Missouri | Sac River near Caplinger Mills, Missouri |
| Shoal Creek near Joplin, Missouri | Spring River at Carthage, Missouri | Spring River at Waco, Missouri |
| Little Osage River at Fulton, Kansas |
For more specific information on stages and/or forecast please refer to the following web site:
Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service(AHPS) pages.
Low Water Crossings: One of the primary flood hazards and causes of flood related deaths across the Ozarks is driving into low water crossings. Every year a few adventurous drivers attempt to cross flooded roads and fail. If you should encounter a flooded roadway, do not attempt to cross it - instead turn around and find an alternate route!!!! 
Learn more about Low Water Crossings.
Float Streams: Many of the Rivers in southern Missouri are popular float streams. Unfortunately, the climate of the area is such that rapid rises in rivers and streams can result from thunderstorms. If canoeing or camping along one of the many float streams, be sure to keep an eye on the weather and be prepared to move to higher ground immediately should thunderstorms or rapid rises occur.
United States Geological Survey
NWS river forecasts are based, to a great extent, on data from USGS stream-gaging stations. The USGS operates most of its streamgages on a cooperative basis with other Federal, State, and Local agencies that fund individual gaging stations for agency-specific projects or regulatory needs. Reductions in stream-gaging program funds, due to budget reductions for the USGS or for cooperating agencies, usually require that some stations be discontinued.For more information, see the USGS fact sheets...
Streamflow information for Missouri
