Latest news with #CheneyLake
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
How much rain did south-central Kansas get? Here are totals for Wichita, other spots
Some areas of Kansas saw heavy rains late Thursday and overnight Friday. Wichita saw a much lower amount than other areas of the state, with 0.64 inches falling since Thursday morning. About 0.16 inches of that fell since midnight. There were no reports of flooding in Wichita, which had been a concern in the forecast. One report near the area of the Ninnescah River that flows into Cheney Lake, where Wichita gets its water, saw 4.42 inches of rain during Thursday and Friday morning. 'That is definitely something of note,' said Scott Smith, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Wichita. Wichitans have had restrictions on water use during a drought. But levels at Cheney Lake have been rising because of recent rains. More rain is forecast Friday too. The effect of these rains on lake levels is not yet know. Cheney was 96.62% full at a measurement taken Monday. Here is a look at rainfall around the state on Thursday and overnight into Friday: A station in Butler County measured 3.65 inches of rain Thursday and then 0.42 inches since midnight Friday. A station 10 miles southwest of Hutchinson measured 2.34 inches of rain since midnight Friday and 0.04 inches on Thursday. There was some flooding in Rice County, Smith said. Quarter-sized hail was reported in Newton around 8:45 p.m. Thursday. So far this month, as measured at the Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, Wichita has had 3.86 inches of rain. Wichita has had 27.54 inches of rain so far this year compared to the normal 30-year running average of 20.64 inches, NWS data shows. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Locals celebrate as historic rainfall brings lake levels almost back to normal: 'It's great for the start of the summer'
Officials in Kansas are excited after a historic rainfall helped raise a local lake's levels close to normal for the start of summer. According to KSN, Cheney Lake, located outside Wichita, Kansas, is sitting just a foot below its normal level after receiving massive rainfall on June 17, 2025. The lake's elevation now sits at 1,420.61 feet, and the conservation pool is 93.89% full. According to the National Weather Service, the 4.19 inches of rain Wichita received on June 17 was the fourth-highest single-day June rainfall ever recorded, and the highest single-day total since 1965. Despite the massive rainfall and the lake's rise, Wichita remains in Stage 2 of its drought plan, which limits water use for irrigation and lawns to once a week for non-critical outdoor watering. The conditions are based on the lake's 12-month average, and the plan could be revised as soon as July 1, 2025. The drought followed by a massive storm is emblematic of the issues that continue to plague our planet, courtesy of our changing climate. As Earth heats up, weather patterns become less predictable and more severe. Periods of prolonged drought are often followed by massive storms that dump large quantities of rain in a short period, which can destabilize the soil and increase the risk of landslides. It makes farming increasingly difficult, especially in places like Kansas, which heavily relies on agriculture in its economy. The western United States has been particularly hard hit by the aridification associated with our changing climate; reservoirs in California are now at full or near-full capacity for the first time in years, thanks to historic spring rains. Residents were also thrilled with the lake's rise. "It's great for the start of the summer because it means you can finally get your family out here, and we can do things that we wanted to do that we couldn't do the last couple of years out here, so it's pretty awesome," Wichita resident Josh Nelson said. Do you think your city does a good job of managing trash and waste? Yes Usually Only sometimes Not at all Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Crowds changing course due to low water levels at Cheney
EL DORADO, Kan. (KSNW) — Several thousand people are expected at El Dorado State Park this weekend. Boating is a big draw ahead of Memorial Day. A park ranger tells KSN what he's doing to keep people safe on the water and why El Dorado State Park is so popular. Right now at Cheney Lake, the water level is just under 8 feet below normal. Several campers KSN spoke to say it's the reason they go to El Dorado State Park. Showers and storms through the holiday weekend With Cheney's level so low, Park Ranger Michael Hammer says he's expecting a lot more people. 'I know the game wardens are planning on doing water patrol tomorrow, … Sunday and Monday as well,' said Hammer. Many residents like Paige Green from Derby, who come from all over south central Kansas, are at the park already. 'We camp out here pretty regularly on holiday weekends, said Paige. 'We have a boat out here, all of our friends are out here, so it's just a good place to hang out.' For some, being out on the water is a tradition. 'We've been doing this a long time, it's a tradition that our parents started,' said Paige. 'Our parents have been doing this since we were little,' said Chase Green. Lake goers like Chase and Paige, who usually go to Cheney, are changing course. 'We live about two and a half miles from Cheney reservoir, so the lake's pretty low and their reservoir is pretty low, and we come out here just because we enjoy the environment, and the lake is a little higher,' said Greg Metzen. Hammer says the trend for people coming to El Dorado came early. 'It already kind of started at the end of last season. I've talked to campers, and they would say that they were normally out of Cheney this time of year, but with it being so low, they decided to come out here instead,' said Hammer. Many lake goers are ready for a safe and fun holiday weekend. 'Anybody that takes any kind of boating class would be, you know, told that so and they do have the Department of Wildlife and Parks people that come out and patrol that out here in El Dorado, which makes you feel a little safer,' said Metzen. The park ranger says law enforcement will step up patrols in and around the campgrounds. He urges parents to make sure their little ones are paying attention to the streets and looking both ways, as campers can get big, which can cause low visibility between them. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
