Severe Storms Trigger Flash Flooding and Golf‑Ball Hail Across Southwest Missouri

On the evening of June 25, the National Weather Service in Springfield issued a Flash Flood Warning and a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for southwest Missouri. Heavy rain, ranging from two to five inches, caused flash flooding in dozens of communities including Springfield, Joplin, Bolivar, and Buffalo, affecting creeks, streams, roadways and low‑lying areas. The storm also produced golf‑ball‑size hail and wind gusts up to 60 mph, prompting officials to warn residents to avoid flooded roads and seek higher ground.

A subsequent local forecast warned that flood‑watch conditions would continue through the evening, with additional rain possible and a risk of further flooding. Temperatures were expected to rise into the upper 80s, with a heat dome projected to bring 90‑degree highs and triple‑digit heat indexes across the region later in the week.