Once again, powerful thunderstorms bought a risk of severe thunderstorm activity and heavy rainfall to the KVOE listening area.
Strong storms brought brief moderate to heavy rain to the area from around 2-4 am. Wind damage was the main issue, and that was isolated to a barn roof blowing away near Dunlap. Winds were as high as 65 mph outside Eureka and close to 50 mph at the Emporia Municipal Airport.
Rain totals were relatively light:
*KVOE studios: 0.40 inches
*West Emporia: 0.30 inches
*Emporia Municipal Airport: 0.20 inches
*Olpe: 0.40 inches
Representatives of the Army Corps of Engineers spent time in Hartford and Neosho Rapids on Sunday, meeting with residents and assuring them of the strength of nearby levees. Corps representatives tell KVOE News they do not believe the Neosho River will overtop levees near either town.
Saturday was busy near Neosho Rapids as a four-person family was rescued from the rising floodwaters. Several agencies, including Hartford-Neosho Rapids Fire, Emporia Fire and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, helped with the effort — which took several hours to resolve.
More good news came Sunday, this time from Greenwood County. The Emergency Management Department canceled the evacuation notice around Fall River Reservoir and points immediately downstream after issuing that notice late Friday night. Water releases are now around 8,400 cubic feet per second, well below the 36,000 cfs from Friday and early Saturday.
Lakes
Flooding continues downstream of John Redmond Reservoir through Burlington and LeRoy. The Army Corps of Engineers increased the water flow out of John Redmond Reservoir and down the Neosho River from over 29,000 cubic feet per second to around 35,000 before dropping that amount down to around 32,000 cfs. Authorities are still encouraging residents in flood-prone areas in Burlington and LeRoy to evacuate.
In Osage County, the Army Corps of Engineers closed Outlet Park on Saturday to prevent “elevated risk to life and safety.” The lake is about three feet shy of flowing uncontrolled through a nearby spillway. All sites in Outlet Park are closed until June 2. Other sites at Arrow Rock, Coeur d’Alene and Turkey Point are closed until late June.
The Army Corps of Engineers tell KVOE News it is never an easy decision on whether or not to increase water releases, however, it is necessary in order to account for a surcharge of water and protect the infrastructure of reservoirs. Decisions on water releases take into consideration the opinions of the National Weather Service, the Army Corps of Engineers’ own meteorologists and other hydrology experts. Corps representatives say increasing releases, as was the case at John Redmond and Fall River the past few days, is something they never wish to do, especially in highly populated areas, however, it must be done to avoid more severe complications.
Travel
Lyon County
*Kansas Highway 99 remains closed until further notice from Emporia’s south city limits to Road 130. Access to Old Highway 99 bridge and All Veterans Memorial is now closed until K-99 reopens, and Commercial Street is closed to thru traffic from Logan Avenue to Soden’s Grove until further notice. The David Traylor Zoo remains open.
Other road closures:
*2100-2200 blocks Rd 40
*170 between Y & Z
*Road 250 between Roads D & F
*Road H between Roads 130 & 140
*300 block X
*300, 400 and 500 blocks Y
Chase County
*Kansas Highway 177 is open between Cottonwood Falls and Strong City, but there is water over the highway. A KDOT flagger is directing traffic
*Numerous county roads
Coffey County
*Kansas Highway 58 from Oxen to Planter east of US Highway 75.
Greenwood County
*Numerous county roads
Rivers
Most river gauges remain in flood through the KVOE listening area.
The Cottonwood is in flood from Emporia west to Cottonwood Falls.
*At Emporia, the river is at 24.89 feet, above flood stage of 20 feet. The river may rise to 25.4 by Monday morning and may not drop below flood stage until late Thursday.
*At Plymouth, the river is currently at 32.72 feet, above flood stage is 32 feet. The river crest at 34.7 feet Sunday evening and go below flood stage Tuesday.
*At Cottonwood Falls, the river is at 10.35 feet, above flood stage of 9 feet. The river could still rise to 11.6 feet Monday evening and go below flood stage Wednesday.
The Neosho is also in flood from Neosho Rapids southeast to LeRoy.
*At Emporia, the river is at 19.4 feet, above flood stage of 19. The river could climb to 20.1 feet by noon Monday and go below flood stage Monday evening.
*At Neosho Rapids, the river is at 25.88 feet above flood stage of 22 feet. Current projections have the river cresting at 27.5 feet Monday. The river may drop below flood stage the upcoming weekend.
*At Burlington, the river is at 32.24 feet, above the flood stage of 27, and may hold steady at that mark for days.
*At LeRoy, the river was last observed at 28.4 feet, above flood stage of 23 feet. The river may hold steady through the upcoming weekend.
Tuesday severe weather potential
Memorial Day should be dry after the early-morning activity, but Tuesday could be active with the potential for severe weather. All severe weather hazards are currently possible for Tuesday afternoon and evening. Heavy rain is possible with any storms that develop.
Stay with KVOE and KVOE.com for updates. Join KVOE’s social media accounts on Twitter@kvoeam1400 or Facebook@kvoenews for instant weather and travel alerts if you have not already done so. Also, make sure to download the free KVOE mobile app so you have our severe weather coverage wherever you may be.
