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Flash Flood — Cape Girardeau, MO

Jul 19, 2023

Cape Girardeau County was on the western edge of a swath of extremely heavy rainfall that caused catastrophic flooding in western Kentucky and the southern tip of Illinois. Rainfall amounts were generally 6 to 12 inches in those areas, but rainfall amounts in Cape Girardeau County were mostly 5 to 6 inches. The historic rainfall event was caused by a persistent thunderstorm complex that continually regenerated as it moved southeast across the region during the early morning hours of the 19th. Th

Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database (event 1102209). Narrative written by NWS staff at the time of the event.

Flood Risk Context for Cape Girardeau, MO

This event is one of many recorded floods in Cape Girardeau County. See the full FEMA flood zone map, NFIP claim totals, and disaster history for the area.

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