Severe storms are still a possibility for the local listening area this evening; however, rainfall throughout the day has led to the latest round of flooding for portions of the area.
Rainfall, ranging from moderate to heavy at times, has been a constant throughout the day on Tuesday, leading to the issuance of a few flood-related advisories, including a warning for the Neosho River at Neosho Rapids, which goes until late Sunday evening.
At last word, the river was at 17.65 feet, well below the 22-foot flood stage. However, the river is expected to crest at 22.9 feet by early Friday and drop back below flood stage by early Sunday morning.
Separately, the Cottonwood River near Florence is under a warning until early Friday morning. The river was last observed at 5.17 feet below the 22-foot flood stage. The river is expected to crest at 22.10 feet by Wednesday afternoon, with minor flooding expected until it drops below flood stage by early Thursday.
Also, a countywide flood warning has been issued for all of Chase County until 9:30 pm Tuesday. The warnings follow a areawide flood watch in effect until 1 pm Wednesday.
In Emporia, authorities have closed the Mechanic Street underpass due to high water levels. In Chase County, several reports of flooding have been relayed by Sheriff Jacob Welsh. He tells KVOE News water is currently covering a stretch of Kansas Highway 177 between Cottonwood Falls and Matfield Green, as well as Highway 177 in Cottonwood Falls from Main Street to Pearl Street, which he says is completely covered but passable at low speeds.
Tuesday’s activity comes two weeks to the day after torrential rainfall led to widespread flooding across the local area, shutting down numerous roads in Lyon and Chase counties while also leaving some communities underwater for a time. KVOE News reached out to Lyon County Emergency Management Director Jarrod Feel to gauge the possibility of a repeat experience with the current rain event.
He says, based on current projections, calling for anywhere from 2-3 inches of rainfall through the remainder of the storm event, he does not anticipate the same level of impact. That said, Fell tells drivers they still need to take normal precautions as the rainfall could lead to some travel impacts in the coming days.
Current rain totals:
*KVOE studios: 1.50 inches
*Emporia Municipal Airport: 1.35 inches
*Country Club Heights: 1.30 inches
*Ninth and Lawrence: 1.60 inches
*3.5 miles west of Emporia Golf Course: 3 inches
*Cottonwood Falls: Between 3.40 and 3.70 inches
*Eureka Milliken Airport: 0.67 inches
The rainfall and resulting flooding come on top of an enhanced risk for severe activity that still covers the entire listening area. All hazards are possible, with the greatest timeframe for storm development coming in the early to mid-evening hours, according to National Weather Service Meteorologist Brandon Drake. He tells KVOE News any storms that develop will come as a second wave of activity once the current round of rainfall begins to move out of the area.
Among the risks are chances for tornadoes with Drake saying we could see some “weak tornadoes” develop along a line of storms in the evening hours; however, current models are calling for greater chances to the south of the core listening area. That said, a tornado watch has been issued for Greenwood County through 10 pm Tuesday.
Be sure to stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for more weather updates as they become available. Also, if you have weather reports or rain totals, be sure to message the KVOE Bluestem Farm and Ranch Supply text line at 620-342-5863.
12:43 pm: Flood warnings issued for Neosho at Neosho Rapids, Cottonwood at Florence as severe weather risk continues Tuesday
While severe weather is possible Tuesday evening, at least isolated heavy rainfall in the forecast — along with some taking place through the day — has put flooding back in the forefront for some area residents.
The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for the Neosho River at Neosho Rapids from Thursday morning to late Sunday evening. The river was at 17.8 feet as of 11:30 am. Flood stage is 22 feet, and the river should go above that mark late Thursday morning. The river could crest at 22.9 feet, both early Friday afternoon and again Saturday evening before going below flood stage early Sunday.
Also, a flood warning has been issued for the Cottonwood River at Florence affecting west Chase County from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday afternoon. The river was at 3.7 feet at 11:15 am but should go above the 22-foot flood stage early Wednesday afternoon, crest at 23.9 feet Wednesday evening and go below flood stage early Thursday.
A flood watch affects all area counties from 4 pm Tuesday to 1 pm Wednesday and comes as Lyon County still has a short list of barricaded roads from prior flooding June 3-11:
*Road 135 from V-6 to W
*Road 145 from V-6 to Neosho Rapids
*Road 150 from N to P
*Road V-6 from 135 to 140; from 140 to 145
*Road W from 123 to 135
The Weather Service Forecast Points information page indicates around 2 inches of rain could fall in and around Emporia from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday evening. This follows light rain from Tuesday morning:
*KVOE studios: 0.25 inches
*Emporia Municipal Airport: 0.29 inches
*3.5 miles west of Emporia Golf Course: 0.20 inches
*Eureka Milliken Airport: 0.23 inches
Severe thunderstorms are possible as the Storm Prediction Center continues an enhanced risk for all hazards for the evening hours. Wind gusts to 80 mph, hail to the size of eggs and isolated tornadoes are possible.
KVOE and KVOE.com will have updates. If you have rain totals or storm reports, message the KVOE Bluestem Farm and Ranch text line at 620-342-5863.
7:30 am Tuesday: Conditional severe weather risk remains Tuesday evening; flooding possible with several Lyon County roads still barricaded from earlier heavy rainfall
Severe weather is possible and at least isolated heavy rain appears likely across parts of the KVOE listening area Tuesday.
As expected, an early round of storms has led to severe thunderstorm warnings for portions of the listening area well west of Emporia, with separate warnings for parts of Chase and Morris counties well before sunrise. TV-13 meteorologist Doug Meyers expects heavy rain, either isolated or widespread. He says some forecast models indicate storm coverage past lunchtime, and he says that could alter our severe weather risk with more storms expected by evening.
Weather Service meteorologist Jennifer Prieto says stronger storms could fire by early evening, depending on how long morning activity lingers across the area.
The Weather Service Forecast Points information page indicates around 2 inches of rain could fall in and around Emporia from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday evening. This follows light rain from Tuesday morning:
*KVOE studios: 0.25 inches
*Emporia Municipal Airport: 0.29 inches
*3.5 miles west of Emporia Golf Course: 0.20 inches
*Eureka Milliken Airport: 0.23 inches
A flood watch affects all area counties from 4 pm Tuesday to 1 pm Wednesday and comes as Lyon County still has a short list of barricaded roads from prior flooding June 3-11:
*Road 135 from V-6 to W
*Road 145 from V-6 to Neosho Rapids
*Road 150 from N to P
*Road V-6 from 135 to 140; from 140 to 145
*Road W from 123 to 135
The severe weather and flooding risks coincide with a system upgrade for the National Weather Service Topeka office, with Tuesday being Day 2 of a three-day update to the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System. The only notable impact for the public is the NOAA Weather Radio transmitters handled by the Topeka office, all of which are offline until the upgrade is complete. Weather Service meteorologist Chad Omitt says residents need to have several ways to get watch and warning information, including radio, TV and special weather apps for mobile phones.
KVOE and KVOE.com will have updates. If you have rain totals or storm reports, message the KVOE Bluestem Farm and Ranch text line at 620-342-5863.
