Isolated severe weather developed across parts of the KVOE listening area Saturday morning.
Storms brought marginally severe wind to places like Cottonwood Falls and parts of Lyon County southwest of Olpe, downing small tree limbs in both areas. The damage was much more significant in Hartford, where part of the City Hall roof was removed, at least one tent was overblown and at least one full tree was downed along with significant limb damage to other trees.
Small-scale power outages were also noted in places like Emporia, Allen, Council Grove, Neosho Rapids and Waverly for Evergy customers. 4 Rivers had limited outages in Lyon and Coffey counties, while Flint Hills Rural had close to 150 customers offline in Chase and Morris counties.
The stronger storms followed two line segments of less severe activity that largely stayed north of Emporia, causing a wide spread in rain totals areawide.
Rain and damage reports
*KVOE studios: 1.6 inches of rain
*Emporia Municipal Airport: 0.66 inches
*9th and Burns: 0.50-inch hail
*Allen: 3.4 inches of rain
*Cottonwood Falls: Estimated 60 mph wind and “a lot of branches down”
*Eureka Milliken Airport: 1.14 inches of rain
*3 miles south-southwest of Olpe: Estimated 60 mph wind with small tree branches downed
An urban and small stream flood advisory remains in effect for Lyon County, including Emporia, Americus, Neosho Rapids, Reading, Allen, Admire and Bushong, until 1 pm.
The Storm Prediction Center still has most of the KVOE listening area in a slight severe weather risk for the late afternoon and evening hours Saturday. Areas along and south of US Highway 54 in Greenwood County are in an enhanced risk for severe activity. All hazards are possible, but the biggest concerns are wind gusts up to 60 mph and 1-inch hail.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates. If you haven’t connected to KVOE’s social media platforms, find us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, all @kvoenews, as well as X@kvoeam1400. Click here for KVOE’s YouTube channel, including YouTube Short outlooks and reports.
To report storm damage or rain totals, message the KVOE Bluestem Farm and Ranch Supply text line at 620-342-5863.
6 am Saturday: Heat to break after potentially severe storms Saturday
A week’s worth of heat alerts is ending with thunderstorm chances, including a new timetable for potential severe weather, this weekend.
High temperatures will still climb to the low 90s and heat index readings will push to around 100 degrees areawide Saturday. The heat alert picture is different from the announcements Friday:
*Heat advisories continue until 8 pm for Lyon and Wabaunsee counties
*Coffey and Osage counties have shifted from heat warnings to heat advisories, also expiring at 8 pm
*Greenwood County is now in a heat advisory from 12-8 pm
Storms could cross the area as soon as mid-morning, and the timing for potential severe weather has been adjusted from earlier forecasts. Initially, the thought had the severe weather potential for the overnight hours early Sunday. Now that has been pushed up to the late afternoon into late evening hour Saturday, overlapping Emporia’s annual fireworks show and other July 4 activities areawide. Wind gusts up to 60 mph and 1-inch hail are the main concerns.
More storms are possible but unlikely late Sunday afternoon. Temperatures will be in the mid-80s with lower relative humidity levels, meaning a break from the heat which could last until Wednesday when air temperatures return to the low 90s and heat index readings approach 100 again.
With the risk for severe weather and numerous holiday activities planned Saturday, be sure to stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates as needed. If you haven’t connected to KVOE’s social media platforms, find us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, all @kvoenews, as well as X@kvoeam1400.
