Most of Barton County has received about six inches of rain the past two weeks. But the county escaped flash flooding problems that affected nearby Rice and McPherson counties Monday.
Rice and McPherson counties reported county roads that were impassible due to high water. Rice, McPherson, Reno, Saline and other counties east were under flash flood warnings Monday and Tuesday. Heavy rains also caused problems across southeast Kansas, where many roads were covered.
High water from the Little Arkansas River has closed 22nd Road from Ave. B to Ave. F in Rice County. Water was also across the roadway at 31st and Ave. Q, but was passable. County roads were closed Monday between Bushton and Geneseo and numerous roads were reported covered with water.
“It’s not advisable to travel on any county roads in Rice County, even in a 4-wheel drive vehicle,” said Terry David, Rice County emergency management director. “Most of the issues are related to flash flooding.”
Drivers are cautioned to not drive your vehicle into areas where the water covers the roadway. The water depth may be too great to allow your car to cross safely. To report flooding, call the nearest law enforcement agency to relay your report to the National Weather Service office in Wichita.
Barton County was under a flash flood watch Monday. Roadside ditches were full of water Monday, but were receding. The Arkansas River had not showed much change. Counties west and north of Great Bend received less than an inch of rain.
The high water forced a large snapping turtle to move from its habitat to a ditch in the 4900 block of Quail Creek, where a concerned citizen phoned animal control because youngsters were playing in the neighborhood. Common snappers are noted for their belligerent disposition when out of the water, their powerful beak-like jaws, and their highly mobile head and neck.
“We were really fortunate in Barton County because we’ve received steadier rain and not 4 or 5 inches at once,” said Amy Miller, Barton County emergency management director. “Luckily, we did not have any of the severe flooding that other counties have seen. Most of the counties having problems are downstream.”
McPherson County emergency management director Dillard Webster said emergency crews had to evacuate about 35 to 40 people on Monday because of the flooding. An eight-block block area of Lindsborg needed heavy trucks and flat-bottom boats to evacuate homes. One person was injured from falling into the water.
Between 4 and 5 inches of rain fell in about an hour Monday. A retention pond overflowed, causing flooding in the streets and about 50 homes on Lindsborg’s north side.
A couple of homes in Marquette were evacuated because of high water.
Locations in Rice and McPherson counties received 2 inches of rain in 90 minutes. Lindsborg received 4.5 inches of rain in three hours.
In Reno County, Cow Creek is flooding and overflowing into fields, and in Newton, U.S. 50 from Meridian to Halstead was closed due to flood water.
Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall caused flooding of small creeks and streams. Country roads and farmland along the banks of creeks and streams had flooding.
A thunderstorm produced 3/4-inch hail south of Garfield at 5:52 p.m. Monday in Pawnee County. Hail reports were 1.75-inch (Ford), 1.5-inch (Kiowa), 1.25-inch (Stafford).
Comanche County reported power poles blown over and a mobile home destroyed by 60 to 70 mph winds. Power poles were also snapped in Ford County.
A funnel cloud was reported in Barber County. A tornado was reported four miles east of Preston in Pratt County. Flash flooding was reported in the county.