5 days ago
Wichita metro area under flood warning. Here's how much rain has fallen, forecast
Drivers in the Wichita metro area are being asked to take caution Tuesday afternoon after heavy rainfall flooded streets and intersections.
Shortly after 5 p.m., the Kansas Department of Transportation said drivers on Kellogg in Wichita should 'be aware that flooding has impacted multiple ramps in eastbound and westbound directions.' No ramps were closed, but KDOT said conditions could change rapidly.
Just before 5, the National Weather service issued an updated flood warning effective until 11 p.m. for Wichita, Derby, El Dorado, Andover, Haysville, Augusta, Park City, Valley Center, Bel Aire, Goddard, Rose Hill, Maize, Towanda, Colwich, Benton, Kechi and Eastborough. The weather service initially issued at flood warning at 10 a.m. and later added a flash flood warning for southeastern Sedgwick County until 5:45 p.m.
'At 133 PM CDT, local law enforcement reported thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 3 and 4inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. This is a FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY for along and east of I-135 in downtown Wichita into East Wichita. This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW!' the warning said.
Areas that could have flash flooding include Wichita, Andover, Haysville, Bel Aire, Eastborough, east Wichita, McConnell Air Force Base, northeast Wichita, south Wichita, Jabara Airport and Oaklawn.
In late morning, Valley Center Police chief Lloyd Newman said that officers and firefighters were out responding to stalled cars, and that a majority of the city's streets were flooded. He urged residents to not go out in their vehicles.
'Water's backed up on probably a majority of our streets, certainly on the east side of town,' Newman said over the phone. 'I think the storm drains are just having trouble keeping up with this amount of rain.'
Over the past 12 hours, Valley Center had received 4.37 inches of rainfall, with 3.24 inches of that picked up over a three-hour period, National Weather Service Wichita meteorologist William Iwasko said at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.
During the same time period, Wichita saw 0.96 inches of rainfall and minimal flooding.
Just southeast of Valley Center, Park City closed off Broadway in front of 81 Speedway and south of 77th street because of high water, the city said in a social media post.
'Please be aware of the high water throughout the city, and do not drive into it,' the city said.
Wednesday should offer a break from the rain with a sunny high between 73 and 77 degrees. Off-and-on chances for showers and thunderstorms will persist Thursday and into the weekend, but Iwakso said the heaviest rainfall was expected to end Tuesday.
'Tomorrow [Wednesday] during the daylight hours will be beautiful,' Iwasko said.
Riverfest delayed Tuesday's events and activities due to the weather, but is updating festival-goers on its social platforms.
