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: This product is produced each morning between
10am and noon and includes precipitation, both rain and snow, from
cooperative observers and automatic precipitation gages.
River Summary: This product is also produced each morning between 10 am and 11 am 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: Produced
each morning, this product gives the expected stage for the next
three 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:
Flood Potential Outlook: Used to alert the public when flood producing rainfall is expected in 36 to 72 hours. During the months of February and March, this product contains information on the potential for flooding from snowmelt. Also contains flood forecasts for locations that would rise above flood stage if forecast precipitation occurs.
Flash
Flood/Flood Watch: Issued
when conditions are favorable for flooding or flash flooding to
develop. NWSO Springfield, MO can issue this product in the first
period of the forecast while NWSO St. Louis currently has responsibility
for this product during the routine forecast issuance times.
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/Flood Warning or Watch.
Urban/Small Stream 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.
| Big Piney River at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO | Elk River at Tiff City, MO | Gasconade River at Hazlegreen, MO |
| Gasconade River at Jerome, MO | Jack's Fork River at Eminence, MO | James River at Galena, MO |
| Little Osage River at Horton, MO | Marmaton River at Ft. Scott, KS | Marmaton River at Nevada, MO |
| North Fork White River at Tecumseh, MO | Osage River at Schell City, MO | Sac River near Caplinger Mills, MO |
| Shoal Creek near Joplin, MO | Spring River at Carthage, MO | Spring River at Waco, MO |
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.
| Hydrology Products |
| Hydrology Products can now be found using the AHPS Text Database |
River readings and forecasts can be found on our website in the 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 the Nation
