NWS confirms downburst responsible for Monday storm damage

Downburst or microburst winds led to storm damage in and around Emporia on Monday night.

Isolated severe storms developed Monday evening, even though no warnings were issued while the storms were in Lyon County. National Weather Service meteorologist Bryan Baerg says the downburst that hit Emporia wasn’t widespread.

Cleanup resumes in several areas of west Emporia after downburst winds associated with the storm pushed a 12-by-15-foot shed from the Waters True Value parking lot north towards Arby’s and probably caused a semi to crash at the Kansas Turnpike Emporia gate. The Turnpike Authority says a microburst pushed the semi off the highway. The driver was taken to Newman Regional Health for observation and treatment afterward.

Just west of town, parts of the DeBauge Family Soccer Complex — formerly known as the TRYSA soccer fields — suffered heavy damage. Rec Commission Director Tom McEvoy tells KVOE News he was alerted to the situation by Sports Supervisor Rick Cunningham and found two sections of bleachers were blown into a nearby fence, with port-a-potties blown north across 24th and several Polycarts also blown around.

Storms also knocked down power lines in Emporia and in southern Osage County, forcing power offline to almost 800 Westar customers combined. Kansas Highway 170 was at least partially closed for several hours east of Reading after winds toppled as many as six power lines onto the highway.

Rain totals so far:

*KVOE studios: 1.6 inches total
*East Emporia: 0.80 inches
*North-central Emporia: 1.6 inches
*West Emporia: 1.75 inches
*Emporia Municipal Airport: 0.47 inches
*Allen: 0.35 inches
*Neosho Rapids: 1.1 inches
*Reading: 1 inch
*Saffordville: 0.60 inches

Photos from KVOE staff and listeners are online at KVOE.com. If you have storm photos or rain totals, message the Bluestem Farm and Ranch text line at 620-342-5863.

9:30 pm Monday: No warnings issued in Lyon County, but storms bring wind damage, power outages to area

Clusters of thunderstorms brought isolated heavy rain and damage to the KVOE listening area, even though storms officially were not severe as they developed on Emporia and pushed to the east.

One round of storms developed just southwest of Emporia shortly after 7 pm and put a halt to the Lyon County Fair’s carnival due to winds, small hail and heavy rain. The storm also pushed a 12-by-15-foot shed from the Waters True Value parking lot north towards Arby’s and may have been at least partially responsible for a semi rollover crash at the Kansas Turnpike Emporia gate, although that has not been confirmed at this time.

@NWSTopeka @KVOEAM1400 @WIBWJeremy At approx 7:40pm during a MicroBurst that was hitting Emporia across from Fairgrounds. A Large shed at Waters True Value lifted up, flipped in midair over a drainage ditch, and ended up on west side of Arby’s about 100ft away.. est wind 60mph+ pic.twitter.com/ehBR0D3DEC

— Storm Spotter (@lyon1emporia) August 7, 2018

McEvoy says one soccer team was practicing but took shelter before the storm blew through. He says the Rec Commission will contact its insurance agent Tuesday and repairs will start soon.

A second round of storms then developed almost right on top of Emporia roughly an hour later, causing another round of wind — this time knocking down power lines in Emporia and in southern Osage County, forcing power offline to almost 800 Westar customers combined. Power lines were also downed across Kansas Highway 170 in west Osage County. As of 9:30 pm, the northbound lane is open with assistance but the southbound lane is closed until further notice.

The storms did not garner severe thunderstorm warnings while they were in Lyon County, although the first cluster did get a warning when it moved into Osage County.

Rain totals so far:

*KVOE studios: 0.50 inches

If you have storm photos or rain totals, message the Bluestem Farm and Ranch text line at 620-342-5863.