Strong thunderstorms hit the KVOE listening area in two separate waves Tuesday.
The first wave began around 4:30 pm, with heavy rain, small hail and an initial report of a tornado six miles south of Osage City. The National Weather Service reported a tornado after law enforcement mentioned rotation and lofted debris near the intersection of Kansas Highway 170 and 285th. No damage has been reported at this time. The Weather Service says survey teams are poised to check the area Wednesday.
The second round began impacting the KVOE listening area shortly before 8 pm, with another batch of heavy rain south of US Highway 56 and hail as big as golf balls reported near Roads 140 and C. About 100 Westar Energy customers lost power in Emporia and near Elmdale. Close to 30 Lyon-Coffey customers in north Lyon County were also offline late Tuesday.
Rain came down hard on areas saturated by previous activity this month.
*KVOE studios: 1.7 inches
*Allen: 2.2 inches
*Osage City: 4.25 inches
*Reading: 2.25 inches
With heavy rain and close to 20 inches of rain in parts of Lyon County this month, flash flood warnings have been issued:
*Lyon County: Until 1 am
*Osage County: Until 1:45 am
Elsewhere in Kansas, the same thunderstorm cluster that began the severe weather warnings for Lyon and Osage counties developed at least one long-track tornado. Early indications are the tornado — or a family of tornadoes — originated near Lawrence and plowed northeast into the Kansas City metro. Reports of tornado damage included Lawrence, Eudora, Linwood, Bonner Springs and parts of KC. Over 10 people were injured and better than 10,000 people were left without power. Damage reports are pending.
