Flash Flood in Taney County, Missouri

During the late morning to the early afternoon three kayakers entered Bull Creek after heavy rainfall caused the river to rise nearly 14 feet. When the kayakers entered the river a river gauge on Bull Creek recorded a water level near 13 feet, or near 9 feet above normal stage. The kayakers entered the river near Round Mountain Road and capsized about a half mile down stream where a low water bridge crossed the river. Two of the three kyakers were pulled under by a siphon/whirlpool and drowned.

Strong storms produced heavy rainfall and flooding as a slow-moving cold front moved across southeastern Kansas and into Missouri from overnight April 30th and continued into May 1st. Rainfall accumulations of three to six inches on already very saturated soils led to widespread flooding of low water crossings and larger river systems. In one case, two kayakers perished on Bull Creek when they attempted to float the river after it had risen nearly 14 feet from the heavy rain.