Damage from Thursday night’s storm in Cowley County was being?analyzed Friday?morning by two officials from the National Weather Service Office in Wichita.
At the same time, Cowley County weather observers were watching rivers and creeks move out of their banks in anticipation of low-land flooding before the two major rivers crest Saturday.
One observer reported 1.05 inches of rain fell four miles east of Winfield between 3 and 7 a.m. Friday. That raised the weekly total to 3.21 inches, according to the observer, Arlan Anglemyer. He reported a total of 5.74 inches of rain at the same location last week.
Three pieces of property approximately four miles northeast of Winfield were being inspected, Cowley County Emergency Manager Brian Stone said. The preliminary analysis indicates the damage was caused by high winds, he said.
The area was under a tornado watch when the first damage was reported about 6:12 p.m. The roof on a home, garage, outbuildings, a camper, vehicles?and a propane tank sustained significant damage. Stone was reporting from the field with the NWS meteorologists and did not have the names of the residents available.
Another piece of property sustained shingle-type damage. A fence and trampoline were also damaged. The third piece of property involved storage-type buildings, according to Stone.
A thunderstorm watch was issued after the tornado watch expired. Hail one and three quarters inch in diameter was reported in Caldwell at 3 a.m. At 3:30 a.m., law enforcement reported a car was blown over at a gas station just north of the state line on I-35. Ping-Pong-size hail was reported about the same time in the same area. Winds estimated at 75 miles an hour were reported at 3:38 a.m. at Geuda Springs.
Sixty mile an hour winds were reported in Arkansas City at 3:47 a.m. A few minutes later, a semi was blown off U.S. 77 one mile north of the state line. One inch hail pelted Ark City while hail 1 3/4 inch in diameter was reported east of Ark City.
Heavy rains also fell north of Wichita. The Walnut and Arkansas rivers flow south through Cowley County to Kaw Lake. The Arkansas River in Oxford at 9:45 a.m. today was at 14 feet. Flood stage is 17 feet.
The Walnut River in Winfield stood at 14.22 feet at 10 a.m. today. It is expected to crest at sunrise?Saturday at 27.7 feet. Flood stage is 18 feet. At 22 feet, a large portion of the fairground is usually flooded along with roads west of Rock and three miles north of Winfield. At 28 feet, 14th Street floods south of U.S. 160.
In Arkansas City, the Walnut has risen to 6.95 feet at 6 a.m. Friday. Flood stage is 18 feet. It is expected to crest at 19.9 feet Saturday afternoon. At 18 feet, considerable flooding of farm land can be expected.
The Arkansas River in Ark City was at 12.33 feet at 10 a.m. today. It?is expected to crest at 19 feet at noon Saturday. Flood stage is 17 feet.
County road and bridge employees reported at 11:30 a.m. that Grouse Creek has closed Cowley 19 southeast of Burden and Cowley 2 west of Rock.
