Strong thunderstorms generated heavy rainfall and isolated hail at times Saturday. Similar activity is possible Sunday evening.
Late Saturday night and early Sunday, hail to the size of half dollars, or 1.25 inches in diameter, was noted 9 miles west-northwest of Olpe shortly before midnight, while quarter-sized or 1-inch hail was reported at Lake Kahola. Penny-sized hail, or 0.75 inches in diameter, was reported 4 miles west of Emporia. Earlier, quarter- to half dollar-sized hail was reported in Fall River. Hail of unlisted size was also reported at Matfield Green, one of the Unbound Gravel checkpoints.
Brief heavy rainfall also accompanied the storms, with 1.59 inches recorded at the Emporia Municipal Airport Saturday into early Sunday. Other rain totals as of Sunday morning:
*KVOE studios: 1.80 inches
*1100 block Constitution: 1.75 inches
*10th and Homewood: 1.56 inches
*Cedar Point: 1.30 inches
*Cottonwood Falls: 2.83 inches
*Matfield Green: 1.18 inches
*Neosho Rapids: 2.35 inches
The Mechanic Street underpass closed just before 7 am Sunday, but the closure lasted lass than an hour. No other road closures have been announced.
Sunday currently has a slight-to-marginal severe weather risk for the late afternoon and evening hours. Part of the low atmospheric levels will have temperatures rising instead of falling the further you get from ground level, capping most if not all updrafts from developing into storms. If the cap breaks, storms may well go severe. Hail to the size of eggs or 2 inches in diameter, wind gusts up to 65 mph, isolated tornadoes and heavy rainfall are all possible if storms form Sunday.
Monday also has a marginal severe weather risk for the afternoon, again because a cap is expected. Quarter-sized hail and wind gusts to 60 mph are possible if there are storms Monday.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates. If you have not joined KVOE’s social media platforms, find KVOE on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, all @kvoenews, and X@kvoeam1400. If you have storm reports or rain totals, message the KVOE Bluestem Farm and Ranch Supply text line at 620-342-5863. If you have storm videos, direct message Facebook@kvoenews.
7 am Saturday: Severe storms possible Saturday, Sunday, Monday
After scattered storms Friday night, more scattered storm activity is underway Saturday morning.
Storms caused a minor delay for a 50-mile Unbound Gravel ride leaving Emporia on Saturday morning. Storms Friday night led to a crash that eliminated several XL 350 riders.
Scattered storms could continue, possibly in lines, through the afternoon. The National Weather Service says storms likely will not be severe until mid-evening. Wind gusts up to 60 mph appear to be the main concern, with isolated hail stones up to quarter-size or 1 inch in diameter also possible. Brief heavy rain and lightning are also likely with any storms that develop, day or night.
The Storm Prediction Center has all area counties in a marginal-to-slight severe weather risk for Saturday. Areas along and west of a line from White City to Beaumont are in the slight risk area.
Severe weather is also possible but unlikely both Sunday and Monday. Sunday has a strong cap, where air temperatures between 2,000 and 8,000 feet above the ground go up instead of down. If storms develop, they will likely turn severe with hail up to golf ball size, or 1.75 inches in diameter, and 70 mph wind gusts as the hazards. Monday also has hail and wind as the main weather concerns.
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