July 4th in local weather history 

Independence day is a mid-summer classic American holiday, widely known for early July heat and humidity from the southeast to the Midwest. Climatology tells us the average high in St. Joseph on July 4th is around 88 degrees, while the average low is in the upper 60s. While many independence days are perfect for hitting the pool or lake, and lighting up firecrackers. Of course, this can’t always be the case. History tells us that some July 4ths have also brought impactful severe weather to Northwest Missouri and Northeast Kansas.

One of the stormiest independence days for the Mid-Missouri River Valley in recent history was in 1995. Starting well before dawn that morning, storms were reported to have plowed through the greater St. Joseph area, mainly impacting locations just north of town. Considerable wind damage to trees and some structures was reported from Country Club, to Savannah. Straight-line winds were the suspected culprit, rather than a tornado, which could not be confirmed by the NWS Pleasant Hill Office.

Later that day, another round of strong storms spawned multiple confirmed tornadoes on both sides of the Missouri River. An EF-1 tornado struck rural Brown County Kansas with a path length of 3.7 miles southwest of Highland and southeast of Hiawatha. No injuries were reported in the incident. Residents of Moberly Missouri could not say the same that July 4th, after a tornado plowed through town damaging dozens of buildings and sending several to the hospital.

Looking further back in time, Independence day storms also stole the show in 1973, resulting in one death in Buchanan county, reportedly “when a motorist was electrocuted”. High winds were also reported in the region, including a 60 mph wind gust in Holt County near Oregon, and two sunken boats on Trenton Lake in Grundy County.

Neither 1995 or 1973 hold the official record for wettest July 4th in St. Joseph, that happened in 2010 when 2.32 inches of rain was observed at Rosecrans Memorial Airport. 

Not shockingly, the hottest Independence day in St. Joseph history was indeed a scorcher, taking place 90 years ago in 1936. The official high for the day was a sweltering 106 degrees, amid a record heat wave for much of the Central Plains and Midwest.