Flash Flood — Shannon, Missouri

2024-11-04 · near Rat, Shannon, Missouri

Event narrative

Route P at Big Creek was closed due to flooding. Additional county property damages were reported throughout the entire county, primarily to dirt roads and bridges, with many facilities, campgrounds, and river access points sustained damage to the Scenic Riverway parks. Damage cost estimates are a reflection of the county as a whole. Unprecedented river levels caused devastating impacts to facilities at Akers and Pulltite. The Akers Ranger Station, which also houses Akers Ferry Canoe Rental, had approximately two feet of water throughout. The old Akers Ferry Canoe Rental store was almost fully submerged, sustaining significant damage.

At Pulltite Campground, water reached the roof of the Pulltite Ranger Station and adjoining shower house, causing tremendous destruction. Approximately two feet of water entered the Current River Canoe Rental Store. The Pulltite picnic pavilion was swept away and destroyed. The campground amphitheater was toppled off its foundation. Floodwater lifted thick chunks of asphalt from the campground roads, undercut the roadway in multiple places, scoured campsites, and mangled or relocated posts, picnic tables, fire rings, and other structures. Large trees were toppled throughout the area and tangled with flood debris.

Additionally, Park Rangers carried out several river rescues on Monday and Tuesday for visitors caught off guard.

Wider weather episode

Multiple rounds of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms brought severe weather and flooding to southwest Missouri from November 4-5, 2024. A corridor of very heavy rainfall east of Springfield caused several rivers to reach major flood stage, with some locations experiencing record flooding. A total of four tornadoes were also observed on November 4, all of which were EF-0 in strength. Residual river flooding was observed through November 8, 2024 before flood waters began to recede.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (37.3905, -91.1932)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1219761. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.