Torrential rains and small hail pelted areas of Cowley County Monday night during the first local tornado watch of the new storm season.
Local spotters are calling the storm a "training session" for what may be expected over the next three months as the tornado season gets underway.
Tuesday’s weather has caused Cowley County officials to cancel the county’s participation in the annual state tornado drill scheduled for 1:30 p.m.?Warning radios will still be activated and schools are being encouraged to go ahead to practice their drills. But, no outdoor warning sirens will be activated, said assistant emergency manager Jana McDade.
If the weather looks better Thursday, sirens may be tested then, she said.
The activity Monday night prompted the National Weather Service to issue a significant weather alert for western Cowley County and eastern Sumner?County about 8:13 p.m. The wind and rain reduced visibility for spotters to zero at times. A thunderstorm warning was later issued for northeastern Cowley County, western Elk and a portion of Chautauqua County.
Weather observer Arlan Anglemyer recorded 1.37 inches of rain east of Winfield. No damage has been reported, McDade said. One brief wind guest of 60 miles an hour was recorded in the emergency operating center in Winfield. The temperature reached 70 degrees but is expected to turn colder over the next few days.
An Andover teen suffered possible injuries when he ran into heavy rain on U.S. 77 at 52nd Road. The vehicle Chad Richardson, 19, was driving slid into a ditch but he was able to free himself. He was taken by ambulance to William Newton Hospital to be evaluated, according to the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office.
