River levels are beginning to decrease slowly but surely Thursday, following the addition and extension of some flood warnings in Lyon County.
The Cottonwood River at Emporia and Cottonwood Falls remain in flood warnings along with the Neosho at Neosho Rapids. The current warnings include:
* Cottonwood at Emporia until Saturday evening. The river is currently sitting at 23.69 feet, above the flood stage of 20 through Thursday. The latest guidance shows the river dropping below flood stage by Saturday evening.
*Cottonwood at Cottonwood Falls until Friday afternoon. The river is currently holding at the flood stage of 9 feet. The river is projected to go below flood stage by midnight Thursday.
*Neosho at Neosho Rapids until Sunday evening. As of 4:30 pm the river was sitting at 24.36 feet above flood stage of 22 ft. Current projections have the river dropping below flood stage by Saturday afternoon.
More roads have closed, according to the Lyon County Highway Department:
*Road 145 west of the Neosho Rapids river bridge
*Road 150 west of the Neosho Rapids river bridge
*Road 155 west of Kansas Highway 99 and south of Road W
*Road 160 from R to S
*Road 167 from R
*Road G north of 140 and south of 160
*Road K north of 140
*Road M from 140 to 150
*Road S north of 130
*Road T north of 130
*Road V north of 120
*Road W north of 110
Other closures currently in effect:
*Road 145 east of F
*Road 150 from C to F; Kansas Highway 99 west to J and east to M; from N to R
*Road 160 from G-5 to H
*Road 190 from K to L
*Road A from 170 to 180
*Road C north of 150
*Road D north of 150
*Road E north of 150
*Road G from 160 to 170
*Road H north of 140; from 160 to 165
*Road J (Prairie Street) south of 160; from West 30th (Road 190) to Road 215
*Road P north of 140 and north of 150
*Road R from 150 to 160
2 pm Thursday:UPDATE: Lyon County road closure list expands, river-based flood warnings extended
River levels have been holding steady for much of Thursday, meaning flood warnings in Lyon County have been extended and more roads have been closed.
The Cottonwood River at Emporia and Cottonwood Falls are in flood as is the Neosho at Neosho Rapids. Current warnings:
*Cottonwood at Emporia until Saturday evening. The river was at 23.71 feet, above flood stage of 20 but dropping slightly from a tentative crest of 23.8 feet earlier in the day and holding steady since mid-morning. The latest guidance has the river going below flood stage Saturday morning.
*Cottonwood at Cottonwood Falls until Friday afternoon. The river tentatively crested at 9.1 feet and has been holding steady at the 9-foot flood stage. It should go below flood stage before midnight.
*Neosho at Neosho Rapids until Saturday evening. The river has tentatively crested at 24.57 feet, above flood stage of 22, and has dipped to 24.45 feet. Current models have the river going below flood stage Saturday morning.
Greenwood County also remains in a flood warning until 5:15 pm.
More roads have closed, according to the Lyon County Highway Department:
*Road 145 west of the Neosho Rapids river bridge
*Road 150 west of the Neosho Rapids river bridge
*Road 155 west of Kansas Highway 99 and south of Road W
*Road 160 from R to S
*Road 167 from R
*Road G north of 140 and south of 160
*Road K north of 140
*Road M from 140 to 150
*Road S north of 130
*Road T north of 130
*Road V north of 120
*Road W north of 110
Other closures currently in effect:
*Road 145 east of F
*Road 150 from C to F; Kansas Highway 99 west to J and east to M; from N to R
*Road 160 from G-5 to H
*Road 190 from K to L
*Road A from 170 to 180
*Road C north of 150
*Road D north of 150
*Road E north of 150
*Road G from 160 to 170
*Road H north of 140; from 160 to 165
*Road J (Prairie Street) south of 160; from West 30th (Road 190) to Road 215
*Road P north of 140 and north of 150
*Road R from 150 to 160
11 am Thursday: Cottonwood now in flood at Cottonwood Falls; certain farming activities halted
Heavy rainfall totals have sent area rivers out of their banks, flooded roads and halted farming activities.
Here at the KVOE studios, we received 0.50 since 10 pm Wednesday, pushing our total to 5.5 inches this week. Other totals:
*West Emporia: 0.60 inches today, 6.1 inches this week
*Allen: 0.80 inches today, 5.5 inches this week
*Americus: 1.4 inches today, 5.95 inches this week
*Hartford: 0.20 inches today, 2.95 inches this week
*Lake Kahola: 1.1 inches today, 4.7 inches this week
*Reading: 0.90 inches today, 6.9 inches this week
The rain has pushed the Cottonwood River at Emporia and now Cottonwood Falls, along with the Neosho River at Neosho Rapids, above flood stage. Flood warnings continue for these gauges:
*Cottonwood at Emporia until Saturday morning. The river was at 23.71 feet, above flood stage of 20 but dropping slightly from a tentative crest of 23.8 feet earlier in the day. The latest guidance has the river going below flood stage Friday afternoon.
*Cottonwood at Cottonwood Falls until Friday afternoon. The river has climbed to 9.1 feet, just above the 9-foot flood stage. It should climb to 9.7 feet Wednesday afternoon and go below flood stage before midnight.
*Neosho at Neosho Rapids until Friday afternoon. The river had climbed to 24.57 feet, above flood stage of 22. Current models have the river climbing to 24.7 feet Thursday morning and going below flood stage before midnight.
Greenwood County also remains in a flood warning until 5:15 pm.
Lyon County Extension ag agent Brian Rees says close to 80 percent of the county’s corn acres were planted, with some already emerging when the heavy rain started early Monday. He says young corn can handle some water over it — for a few days.
Rees says there may not have been any soybean acreage — yet — although this is the time of year when bean planting begins. Beans are more susceptible to flooding than corn and will rot more quickly. If replanting is needed, Rees anticipates costs of anywhere from $60 to $150 an acre, including seed, time and pest or weed management adjustments.
Current road closures:
*Road 145 east of F
*Road 150 from C to F; Kansas Highway 99 west to J and east to M; from N to R
*Road 160 from G-5 to H
*Road 190 from K to L
*Road A from 170 to 180
*Road C north of 150
*Road D north of 150
*Road E north of 150
*Road G from 160 to 170
*Road H north of 140; from 160 to 165
*Road J (Prairie Street) south of 160; from West 30th (Road 190) to Road 215
*Road P north of 140 and north of 150
*Road R from 150 to 160
Stay with KVOE and KVOE.com for updates on the flooding potential. Make sure to follow us on Twitter@kvoeam1400 or Facebook@kvoenews for instant alerts.
5:45 am Thursday: K-99 remains open as flooding continues; road closure list adjusts somewhat
The Cottonwood River at Emporia and Neosho at Neosho Rapids remain out of their banks Thursday after a third round of rainfall for the KVOE listening area this week.
Here at the KVOE studios, we received 0.50 since 10 pm Wednesday, pushing our total to 5.5 inches this week.
Other totals:
*West Emporia: 0.60 inches today, 6.1 inches this week
*Allen: 0.80 inches today, 5.5 inches this week
*Americus: 1.4 inches today, 5.95 inches this week
*Lake Kahola: 1.1 inches today, 4.7 inches this week
*Reading: 0.90 inches today, 6.9 inches this week
For river-based warnings:
*Cottonwood at Emporia until Saturday morning. The river was at 23.8 feet, above flood stage of 20 and nearing the point where it starts crossing the Kansas Highway 99 southbound lane at 24 feet. This is also above the last projected crest of 23.6 feet and a new forecast is pending. The latest guidance has the river going below flood stage tomorrow Friday afternoon.
*Neosho at Neosho Rapids until Friday afternoon. The river had climbed to 24.57 feet, above flood stage of 22. Current models have the river climbing to 24.7 feet Thursday morning and going below flood stage before midnight.
The warning for the Neosho at Emporia has been canceled after the river never got to flood stage. Greenwood County is in a county-wide flood warning until 5:15 pm. Flash flood watches continue for Lyon, Coffey, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee counties until 7 am.
Three roads were added to the closure list Wednesday:
*Road 145 east of F
*Road H north of 140
*Road J south of 160
Other closures:
*Road 150 from C to F; Kansas Highway 99 west to J and east to M; from N to R
*Road 160 from G-5 to H
*Road 190 from K to L
*Road A from 170 to 180
*Road C north of 150
*Road D north of 150
*Road E north of 150
*Road G from 160 to 170
*Road H from 160 to 165
*Road J (Prairie Street) from West 30th (Road 190) to Road 215
*Road P north of 140 and north of 150
*Road R from 150 to 160
Four roads opened late Wednesday:
*Road 200 from U to V
*Road 215 from J to J-7
*Road 240 from D to F
*Road 170 from G to F
Chances of showers persist through Friday, although the chances are slight to moderate. Rain chances return Sunday night and could last into the middle of next week, based on the current forecast.
Stay with KVOE and KVOE.com for updates on the flooding potential. Make sure to follow us on Twitter@kvoeam1400 or Facebook@kvoenews for instant alerts. If you have rain totals, call KVOE at 342-1400, email kvoe@kvoe.com or text the Bluestem Farm and Ranch text line at 620-342-5863.
