Flood — Ripley, Missouri

2017-05-01 to 2017-05-06 · near Bennett, Ripley, Missouri

Event narrative

The Current River rose over six feet above the record flood level, set in 1904. Catastrophic flood damage occurred in Doniphan and surrounding riverbank areas. At the Doniphan river gage, the river crested at 33.13 feet about mid-morning on May 1. The old record crest was 26.80 feet set in March of 1904. The Highway 160 bridge over the Current River was closed. Much of the city of Doniphan was flooded, including about 40 businesses. Of those 40 businesses, 35 received major damage and two were destroyed. The others had minor damage. Approximately 15 homes were destroyed, another 37 homes received major damage, and 9 received minor damage. The Ripley County and Doniphan city government offices were flooded, knocking out 911 emergency telephone service to the county. Some of the flooded buildings were likely to be total losses. Water levels were estimated to be six feet deep in a church. At least a dozen water rescues were conducted by boat. Some of the rescues involved vehicles in high water, and others involved residents of flooded cabins. The Missouri State Highway Patrol conducted 12 water rescues at a location off Highway H at County Road 12. Public property damage alone was estimated at nearly two million dollars.

Wider weather episode

Record or near-record flooding occurred after a succession of thunderstorm complexes dumped heavy rain in late April, bringing three-day rainfall totals up to a foot in isolated locations. A large complex of thunderstorms moved southeast across southeast Missouri during the evening hours of the 29th. During the overnight hours through the early morning of the 30th, an even larger complex of thunderstorms dumped widespread very heavy rain. This complex occurred along the same front, which moved back north as a warm front across southeast Missouri. These storms accelerated rises in area rivers, which were already above flood stage in some cases.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (36.7676, -90.9695)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 698413. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.