Another spring thunderstorm skipped across the county Thursday afternoon missing Arkansas City while dumping almost two inches of rain at Irving Elementary School in Winfield.
One-fourth of an inch of rain was recorded on the south end of Winfield and in Burden. Dexter received approximately an inch, said Robert Frazee, assistant county coordinator for Emergency Management.
There were no reports of roads being closed in the county but Fifth and Eighth streets in Winfield were flooded, according to Wayne Bodkins, Winfield police dispatcher.
The rain was ending in Winfield when a school bus driver dropped the rear of the bus into a culvert on Bliss Street. The passengers were unloaded and then loaded onto another bus. No one was hurt, Bodkins said.
The Wichita Eagle reported some flooding of businesses in Mulvane after four inches of rain fell there. Commuters driving home from work Thursday were asked to avoid the area.
A flood warning remained in effect Thursday night for the Arkansas River in Ark City. Flood stage is 17 feet. The river stood at 19.4 feet Thursday evening.
Storm water gates in Ark City were closed earlier this week and are being checked every few hours, Frazee said.
The Walnut River in Ark City was dropping, he said. In Winfield, it was recorded at 12.63 feet. Flood stage is 18 feet. Water was barely creeping into the Winfield Fairground, Bodkins said.
Grouse Creek remained within its banks, Frazee said.
Ark City has already received over half its normal rainfall for the year. Frazee said 18 inches has fallen while the normal rainfall is between 32 and 34 inches.
Thunderstorms were forecast again for Friday but the National Weather Service expects a dry weekend.
