Predawn Storm Hammers Metropolitan Area
By Stan Finger, The Wichita Eagle, Kan.
Jun. 18–An early-morning thunderstorm dumped heavy rain on the Wichita area, flooding streets and triggering widespread power outages.
The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for Sedgwick County until 10:15 a.m. because of heavy runoff from the storm that dumped about 1 1/2 inches of rain on Wichita.
An off-duty meteorologist reported that the Cowskin Creek in west Wichita had filled nearly to the edge of the bank, and that residents along the creek should seek higher ground if the Cowskin spills out of its banks.
Flood stage for the Cowskin is at 18 feet, NWS meteorologist Leon Wasinger said.
“I think we still have a couple of days of this,” Wasinger said, warning that more rain is expected late tonight and into Thursday.
The thunderstorm rolled through at about 5 a.m., prompting a severe thunderstorm warning for southern Kingman and southern Sedgwick counties.
Among the areas hardest hit by the storm were McConnell Air Force Base, Cheney, Clearwater, Derby, Mulvane, Haysville, Oaklawn and south Wichita.
The storm’s path is reflected in where high water barricades have been placed: Pawnee at Meridian, Pawnee at Hiram, Pawnee at Sheridan, Third and Bleckley, First and Glendale, Second and Coronado, Meridian from Harry to Orient and Harry from McLean to Seneca.
More than 1,600 Westar customers lost power as a result of the storm, though the number of outages had fallen below 300 by shortly before 9 a.m.
A car was found in a pond at 10625 E. 47th St. South shortly before 8 a.m., but the driver escaped without injury, a Sedgwick County dispatch supervisor said.
Check Kansas.com for updates.
Reach Stan Finger at 316-268-6437 or sfinger@wichitaeagle.com.
—–
To see more of The Wichita Eagle, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.kansas.com.
Copyright (c) 2008, The Wichita Eagle, Kan.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.