Waves of thunderstorm activity brought large hail and heavy rain to parts of the KVOE listening area Friday.
Storms developed both northeast and southwest of Emporia around 7 pm and gradually filled in on top of the area. Quarter-sized hail, or one inch in diameter, was reported at the KVOE studios, and there were larger reports:
*Northwest Emporia: Quarter to half-dollar-sized hail
*Americus Road S-curves: Half-dollar-sized hail
*Strong City: Quarter to half-dollar-sized hail
Heavy rain also fell in pockets:
*KVOE studios: 2.0 inches
*East Emporia: 2 inches
*Northeast Emporia: 2 inches
*Southeast Emporia: 2 inches
*Bethel Corner: 2.5 inches
*Allen: 1.3 inches
*Americus: 1.75 inches
*West of Americus: 1.9 inches
*Cottonwood Falls: 1.2 inches
*Neosho Rapids: 0.70 inches
*Strong City: 1.25 inches
Damage reports are currently isolated, including a lightning-related tree fire in the 1700 block of Thompson. Parts of Chase County were under a tornado warning but no twisters have been confirmed. Lyon and Osage counties were under a flash flood warning for several hours but that has since expired with no issues reported.
The storms caused numerous high school football games to start early — and several were still impacted.
*Emporia High was declared the winner in a 33-0 weather-shortened game at Topeka Seaman.
*Northern Heights won 42-0 over Yates Center in a shortened game.
*Council Grove was leading Mission Valley 14-7 when the game was suspended late in the third quarter. The game will resume Monday.
*Waverly-Marais des Cygnes was suspended late in the third quarter with Waverly leading 46-18. The game will resume at 5:30 pm on Monday.
We do have one local weather-related schedule adjustment. The Emporia Recreation Commission has canceled the youth soccer games this morning at the DeBauge Family Sports Complex. We’ll keep you updated on any more weather-related adjustments as they come in.
If you have rain totals or severe weather reports from Friday, call KVOE at 342-1400, email kvoe@kvoe.com, use the Bluestem Farm and Ranch text line at 620-342-5863 or post to Facebook@kvoenews.
Severe weather is possible Saturday afternoon with all hazards possible. We’ll keep you posted on KVOE, KVOE.com, and KVOE social media. Be sure to download the free KVOE mobile app to take our severe weather coverage wherever you may be. Also, be sure to join KVOE’s social media outlets on Facebook@kvoenews and Twitter@kvoeam1400 for instant news and weather alerts if you haven’t already taken that step. Click here for last night’s story to see photos sent in from area residents from the severe weather.
