With rivers on the rise, the National Weather Service has extended one area flood alert.
Coffey and southeast Osage counties had been in a flood warning until noon Saturday. That has been extended to 8 pm.
A flash flood watch remains active for Lyon and Coffey until 7 am Sunday. Osage County has been dropped.
Currently, the only flooded river affecting any part of the KVOE listening area is the Cottonwood River at Florence, which impacts far west Chase County. The river is apparently cresting at just under 26 feet, causing minor flooding but stopping about a foot shy of going into moderate flood. The river climbed over 20 feet in less than 24 hours before stabilizing. The river should go below flood stage late Saturday night. A flood warning continues until around 10:30 am Sunday.
Other area rivers are also rising rapidly. The Cottonwood at Plymouth gained nine feet in 24 hours, although it’s still well below its flood stage of 32 feet. The Cottonwood west of Cottonwood Falls went up 16 feet overnight and is now approaching 25 feet. That gauge is relatively new, so there is no official flood level for it. The Cottonwood at Emporia and the Neosho River at both Emporia and Americus have not climbed much at all, but the Neosho at Neosho Rapids climbed almost five feet overnight before falling.
Current projections have the Cottonwood at Emporia and Cottonwood Falls, as well as the Neosho at Neosho Rapids, approaching flood levels but not going into flood unless there is more significant rainfall.
9:45 am Saturday: Area road network largely clear despite heavy rain; flood warning, flood watch involve area counties
So far, just two Lyon County roads remain closed after moderate to extremely heavy rainfall Friday.
*1100 block W
*Road 150 between T and V
So far, neighboring counties are reporting clear travel conditions despite the spotty heavy rainfall.
*KVOE studios: 1.55 inches
*Emporia Municipal Airport: 2.57 inches
*3 miles east of the Municipal Airport: 4.17 inches
*10th and Weaver: 1.75 inches
*South and Sylvan: 1.5 inches
*Allen: 0.75 inches
*Eureka: 3.66 inches
*Gridley: 3.64 inches
*Hartford: 3.9 inches
*Neosho Rapids: 6.9 inches
*Olpe: 4.3 inches
*Reading: 3 inches
*Roads 75 and U: 3.75 inches
*Roads 160 and R: 3.11 inches
There is one river-based warning that affects the western edge of the KVOE listening area. The Cottonwood River at Florence is in a flood warning until Sunday morning. At last report, the river was at 25.8 feet, above flood stage of 22 feet. It was approaching moderate flood stage of 27 feet, but it should fall short at 26 feet before going below flood stage late Saturday evening.
There are two more flood alerts. Coffey and southeast Osage counties are in a flood warning until noon Saturday. Lyon, Coffey and Osage counties are in a flash flood watch until 7 am Sunday.
Power outages were another issue with the severe weather or high winds associated with storms. Nearly 2,000 Evergy customers in the east half of Emporia and just east of town lost power due to an apparent microburst, according to spokesman Andrew Baker. It took close to two hours before power was restored. Smaller but significant outages also impacted east and north-central Emporia, Americus, Allen, Bushong and Saffordville.
More rainfall is possible through the next several days. National Weather Service meteorologist Sarah Teefey says the atmosphere is ripe for rainfall this weekend.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates through the weekend. Be sure to join KVOE’s social media channels on Facebook@kvoenews and Twitter@kvoeam1400 if you haven’t already done so. Also, download KVOE’s free mobile app to take our severe weather coverage with you. If you have schedule adjustments, call KVOE at 620-342-1400, email kvoe@kvoe.com or message the Bluestem Farm and Ranch text line at 620-342-5863.
