Early Tuesday, it did not appear there would be significant flooding concerns despite rainfall over the Labor Day weekend and another round of storms possible Wednesday. Now it appears that might be changing to a degree.
The National Weather Service has the Cottonwood River at Emporia in a flood warning from Tuesday evening to late Wednesday evening. The river was at 18 feet as of early Tuesday afternoon, just two feet below flood stage. The river could crest at 20.4 feet early Wednesday morning and go below flood stage shortly afterward.
River gauges further west are also close to flood stage. The Cottonwood at Plymouth is at 30.24 feet, near its projected crest of 30.4 feet and slightly below flood stage of 32 feet. The Cottonwood at Cottonwood Falls is at 7 feet, below flood stage of 9 feet, after tentatively cresting at 7.7 feet early Tuesday.
The rise in area rivers follows anywhere from 1.50 to over 4 inches of rainfall areawide through the Labor Day weekend. It also precedes a slight to moderate chance of showers and storms Wednesday afternoon and evening, including a slight severe weather risk areawide for hail up to egg size and wind gusts up to 70 mph.
KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media will have updates.
8:15 am Tuesday: Rainfall ending after wet Labor Day weekend — and before severe storm risk Wednesday
A damp Labor Day weekend has ended. The dampness may not yet be over for the time being.
Most of the KVOE listening area got at least 1.5 inches of rain since late Friday night, and at least one location got over 4 inches. Current totals:
*KVOE studios: 1.85 inches
*Emporia Municipal Airport: 2.42 inches
*10th and Weaver: 1.50 inches
*800 block Lawrence: 1.75 inches
*1100 block Constitution: 2 inches
*Country Club Heights: 1.40 inches
*Deerbrook Addition: 1.30 inches
*3 miles west of Emporia Golf Course: 4.50 inches
*3 miles east of Emporia Municipal Airport: 2.60 inches
*7 miles southwest of Emporia: 2.60 inches
*2 miles south of Admire: 2.25 inches
*Allen: 1.75 inches
*6 miles north of Cedar Point: 1.50 inches
*4 miles southeast of Cedar Point: 2.53 inches
*Council Grove: 0.50 inches
*2 miles northeast of Elmdale: 1.96 inches
*6 miles southwest of Elmdale: 1.55 inches
*Eureka Milliken Airport: 2.63 inches
*6 miles north of Eureka: 1.97 inches
*Gridley: 1.63 inches
*6 miles north of Gridley: 2.80 inches
*Lamont: 2.90 inches
*2 miles north of Lebo: 2 inches
*2 miles north of Matfield Green: 1.52 inches
*Neosho Rapids: 2.50 inches
*Olpe Blacksmith Shop: 3.80 inches
*6 miles east of Olpe: 3.80 inches
*5 miles southwest of Olpe: 2.85 inches
*Reading: 1.75 inches
*Road 130 3 miles east of Kansas Highway 99: 2.50 inches
*3 miles north-northwest of Strong City: 1.64 inches
*6 miles south of Thrall: 1.68 inches
*1 mile west of Virgil: 1.61 inches
*3 miles southeast of Wonsevu: 2.26 inches
Isolated showers will end Tuesday morning, but there is a slight to moderate chance of showers and storms Wednesday afternoon into evening. There is a slight severe weather risk areawide for hail to the size of eggs and wind gusts up to 70 mph. Storms could also drop up to an inch of rain, but the National Weather Service says they should be moving quickly enough so widespread flooding should not be a concern.
Showers and storms could return Thursday night into Friday, but there is a slight chance of overall storm activity and no severe weather is expected.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates. If you have rain totals, message the KVOE Bluestem Farm and Ranch Supply text line at 620-342-5863.
