Afternoon thunderstorms Saturday dumped large hail in and around Emporia. They also produced several weak funnels as they pushed across the area and drenched some Emporians with heavy rain.
Storms rapidly developed shortly before 4 pm from Emporia’s western edge to the northeast. The line segment then dropped hail ranging from pea to egg size in a narrow corridor stretching from Graphic Arts to Burns streets. The largest hail, two inches in diameter, was reported in the Deerbrook addition of far west Emporia. Damage reports are pending.
In addition, the storms produced several so-called landspouts west and southwest of Emporia. Landspouts resemble traditional funnel clouds, but they are not connected to any rotation within the parent thunderstorm and as such offer a much lower risk of damage. Landspouts are typically associated with cumulus clouds or weak rain showers and rarely touch the ground. There are no reports of touchdowns or damage from Saturday’s activity.
Heavy rain also fell from the storm clouds, although it was spotty in nature:
*West Emporia: 1.7 inches Saturday afternoon, 2.3 inches total from midnight Saturday to 8 am Sunday
*KVOE studios: 0.30 inches Saturday afternoon, 0.80 inches from midnight Saturday to 8 am Sunday
*Emporia Municipal Airport: 0.39 inches from midnight Saturday to 8 am Sunday
*Miller area: 0.45 inches from midnight Saturday to 8 am Sunday
In addition, many Westar customers on Emporia’s west side were inconvenienced by a short power outage. Spokesperson Gina Penzig says an apparent lightning strike disrupted power for nearly 30 minutes, causing around 1,600 customers to go offline starting around 4:30 pm. The outage also temporarily caused the stoplights at 15th and Industrial and 18th and Industrial south of Interstate 35 to go completely dark and to cause the 12th and Industrial stoplight to be a flashing red light in all four directions.
Above video courtesy Chuck Boyce
Photos sent in by KVOE listeners
{gallery}Severe weather May 19 2018{/gallery}
More showers and storms are possible through early evening Sunday. No severe weather is expected.
Showers and storms return to the forecast Tuesday afternoon and continue through at least Saturday. Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates.
1-4:30 pm Saturday: Severe thunderstorm watch for Chase, Greenwood counties; landspouts possible
More severe weather can be expected across much of the region Saturday afternoon and evening.
An enhanced risk remains for the entire KVOE listening area, and Chase and Greenwood counties are now in a severe thunderstorm watch until 10 pm.
In addition, storms that form along and north of Interstate 35 and US Highway 50 could produce brief funnel clouds. The National Weather Service says these so-called “landspouts” are usually weak, lasting only a few minutes if they actually reach the ground. Typically forming from cumulus clouds or weak rain showers as opposed to rotating thunderstorms, landspouts rarely cause damage.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Kyle Poage says storms could fire anytime through the evening hours.
According to the National Weather Service in Wichita, the best chances for damaging winds and large hail will be across south-central Kansas and across the Flint Hills. Golf-ball sized hail, 60-70 mph wind gusts and the potential for tornadoes all exist. Heavy rainfall could lead to flooding in some areas as well.
With the sun coming out Saturday afternoon Poage says that helps set the stage for warmer temperatures down near the surface, which helps destabilize the atmosphere and give more potential for stronger storms.
Even though it won’t storm everywhere in the risk area, everyone needs to be weather aware in case storms to pop up and have shelter readily available. People who observe funnel cloud activity are encouraged to contact the National Weather Service via social media. If there is an imminent tornado threat, the NWS may issue a warning.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates. With the number of events through the day, make sure to join KVOE on Twitter and Facebook for instant severe weather alerts if you haven’t already done so.
8 a.m. Saturday: Strong early-morning storms set table for potential later Saturday
One round of strong storms rolled through the KVOE listening area early Saturday morning but activity later today will be interesting to keep an eye on as all modes of severe weather could potentially be in play.
When exactly storms begin firing is still a big question mark. TV-13 weathercaster Peyton Sanders.
The morning storms prompted a severe thunderstorm warning for Greenwood County but didn’t generate any severe weather reports.
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Rainfall amounts from early Saturday morning:
*KVOE studios – 0.4 inches
*North of Allen – 0.8 inches
*Neosho Rapids – 1.5 inches
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People taking part in outdoor activities Saturday afternoon and evening should remain weather aware and have multiple ways to get severe weather alerts and have a plan in place in case you need to take shelter.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates. With the number of events through the day, make sure to join KVOE on Twitter and Facebook for instant severe weather alerts if you haven’t already done so.
4 a.m. Saturday
Strong storms brought moderate to occasionally heavy rain to the area overnight, including four-tenths of an inch of rain to the KVOE studios.
Storms began rolling across the area shortly after 1 am, triggering a severe thunderstorm warning for Greenwood County but not generating any severe weather reports.
Areas of severe weather are likely this afternoon and evening. However, due to storms this morning, the exact timing and location of these storms are still difficult to say. All areas should be prepared for severe storms this afternoon and evening. Damaging wind gusts, large hail, and tornadoes are all possible with any storm that forms later today. These storms will be moving quickly, so people are urged to have a plan in place and know where to go if you get caught in storms.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates Saturday. With the number of events through the day, make sure to join KVOE on Twitter and Facebook for instant severe weather alerts if you haven’t already done so.
