Flood warnings are in effect Friday for Cowley, Sumner and southern Butler counties. Two to four inches of rain fell across the warned areas overnight and more heavy rains are forecast today along with the possibility of severe weather.
The Walnut River at Winfield is forecast to crest three feet above flood stage Saturday morning. At that stage, flood waters should reach about halfway between the river and the barns at the Winfield Fairground, and should not affect the actual areas where entertainers for the Country Roundup are performing, said Brian Stone, emergency manager for Cowley County.
Flood stage for the Walnut in Winfield is 18 feet. The river is forecast to rise to 21.8 feet at 7 a.m. Saturday, Stone said. Also, additional heavy rains could impact the forecast, according to Stone.
The Arkansas River at Oxford had risen to 15.2 feet at 8 a.m. Friday. Flood stage is 17 feet. The river is expected to continue to rise to near 23 feet by Saturday morning and fall below flood stage late Monday morning.
The heavy rains accompanied a severe thunderstorm that swept through the Geuda Springs and Arkansas City area around 2 a.m. Friday. Approximately 1,000 Ark City residents remained without power mid-morning on Friday, according to the police department.
“Geuda Springs was hit hard. Ark City was hit pretty hard,” Stone said. Areas to the north of Ark City did not appear to be hard hit, he said.
Two homes in the Ark City area sustained major damage, he said. One is located south of town on 77th Road, just east of U.S. 77. A house in Parkerfield on the eastern edge of Ark City was also severely damaged. The Parkerfield Cemetery sustained heavy tree damage. No injuries were reported.
“A lot of utility poles were broken off and trees were down,” Stone said. “We’re still getting reports of damage.”
Two semi trucks were blown over by the high wind; one was pulling an empty box trailer and was blown over on K-15, east of Udall. The second was sitting at Creekstone Farms, according to Stone.
A thunderstorm warning was issued about 20 minutes before the severe weather hit. There were no reports of tornadoes and only a few reports of hail. Spotters were out well before the storm hit, Stone said.
Bob Frazee, assistant emergency manager, said the highest wind clocked in Ark City was 60 miles an hour. One inch of rain was recorded in Ark City.
Damage was still being assessed mid-morning Friday.
