Power outage numbers are dwindling across the KVOE listening area.
All outages for Emporia were cleared before 12:15 pm. Most of the over 700 Evergy customers offline Friday morning were in Emporia, with the bulls-eye on and around Industrial Park 3 — including Simmons Pet Food, which had to halt production for eight hours until the power was restored.
Less than 75 Evergy customers remain offline as of early Friday afternoon.
Chase County was in a flood warning for several hours, but that was canceled well before it was supposed to expire.
11:30 am Friday: Chase County in flood warning; severe storms possible Saturday
Power outages remain an issue across much of the KVOE listening area, but not to the degree they were were during KVOE’s Morning Show on Friday.
Over 700 Evergy customers lost power from Emporia west to Strong City and south across Greenwood County as strong but non-severe storms rolled across the area. The hardest-hit area involved Industrial Park 3 and nearby neighborhoods.
Close to 200 Evergy customers remain offline as of late Friday morning. Spokesperson Gina Penzig says crews have been replacing a pair of broken poles in Americus and one in southeast Emporia.
When combined with storms Thursday afternoon and evening, some area locations got anywhere from 2-4 inches of rainfall. The northern two-thirds of Chase County, including Bazaar, Cottonwood Falls, Strong City and the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, remain in a flood warning until 2:15 pm. There had been some flooding after Thursday’s activity, but none is being reported as of late Friday morning — and despite the rainfall since Thursday, there has been no major spike on area rivers — either the Cottonwood from Emporia west into Marion County, the Neosho from Council Grove around Emporia to Burlington or the Marais des Cygnes north of Reading to Melvern Lake.
Saturday’s forecast still maintains a good chance of showers and storms for the afternoon and evening hours, along with a slight severe weather risk for all hazards.
Be sure to stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates.
9 am Friday: Power outages, heavy rainfall follow Friday morning storms
Storms have brought brief heavy rainfall and scattered power outages to Emporia and the surrounding area.
Currently, close to 650 Evergy customers are offline areawide, with the main concentration in far southeast Emporia involving and surrounding Industrial Park 3. The Simmons production plant has lost power. Details are pending. Hills Pet Nutrition, Michelin and Norfolk Iron and Metal have their power, although Norfolk is currently without internet service.
The stoplight at US Highway 50 and Industrial Road was reported as offline shortly before the heaviest activity began rolling across Emporia. Water was briefly reported over Burlingame Road northeast of Emporia, but flooding receded by 8 am.
There have also been schedule and operations adjustments noted:
*The Emporia State Fall Classic golf tournament at Emporia Golf Course has been canceled due to the storms.
This follows severe thunderstorm activity from Thursday afternoon and evening. Reports as of 8 am, involving the Friday morning rainfall:
*KVOE studios: 1.50 inches rainfall Friday, 2 inches total since Thursday afternoon
*Emporia Municipal Airport: 0.01 inches rainfall Thursday
*West of Emporia Golf Course: 1.50 inches rainfall Friday
*1100 block Constitution: 0.50 inches rainfall
*Seventh and Market: 2.20 inches rainfall Friday, 2.50 inches total since Thursday afternoon
*Ninth and Burns: 4 inches rainfall since Thursday
*10th and Weaver: 0.50 inches rainfall Thursday
*14th and Arundel: 0.40 inches rainfall
*Coronado Avenue: 0.60 inches rainfall
*South and Sylvan: 1.60 inches rainfall Friday
*Whildin between Ninth and 10th: 2.20 inches rainfall Friday
*Allen: 1.50 inches ranfall Friday, 1.70 inches rainfall since Thursday afternoon
*Neosho Rapids: 1.75-inch hail Thursday. 1.40 inches rainfall Friday, 3.40 inches rainfall total since Thursday afternoon
*Reading: 3.8 inches rainfall Thursday
*1 mile east of Reading Lake: 2.6 inches rainfall Thursday
*2 miles northeast of Saffordville: 1-inch hail Thursday
*8 miles north-northeast of Strong City: 2.25 inches rainfall Thursday
*Thorndale: 0.75 inches rainfall Friday
*Toledo: 1.25-inch hail and 2 inches rainfall Thursday
*US Highway 50 east of Strong City: 1-inch hail Thursday
*US Highway 50 and ZZ Road (Chase County): 1-inch to 1.5-inch hail Thursday. Water reported over ZZ Road north of US-50 on Thursday.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates.
