The Walnut River south of Winfield late Thursday morning. (Photo by Brady Bauman)
Flood waters have subsided and we now have statistics from a historical perspective on just how severe flooding was last week in Cowley County.
According to City of Ark City Public Information Officer Andrew Lawson, the Arkansas River at Ark City crested at 20.91 feet at 4:30 a.m. Thursday.
That is 1.98 feet lower than in 1998, which also was its highest recorded level.
Lawson said this flood event was the 5th-highest in recorded Ark City history for the Arkansas River:
1.) 22.89 feet in 1998*
2.) 22.43 feet in 1923*
3.) 22.21 feet in 1944*
4.) 21.62 feet in 1993*
5.) 20.91 feet in 2019
6.) 20.47 feet in 1951*
7.) 20.10 feet in 1985*
8.) 19.55 feet in 1957*
9.) 18.94 feet in 1945*
10.) 18.83 feet in 1942*
(*all pre-2015 numbers adjusted downward by 6 feet to account for gauge move from West Madison bridge to South Summit bridge)
The Walnut River at Ark City crested at 28.52 feet at 8 a.m. Thursday. That is 3.93 feet lower than in 1998, which also was its highest recorded level. Lawson said last weeek’s flood event was the 3rd-highest in recorded Ark City history for the Walnut River:
1.) 32.45 feet in 1998
2.) 29.22 feet in 1995
3.) 28.52 feet in 2019
4.) 28.43 feet in 1923
5.) 28.21 feet in 1944
6.) 26.60 feet in 1964
7.) 26.47 feet in 1951
8.) 26.12 feet in 2007
9.) 26.10 feet in 1985
9.) 26.10 feet in 1993
The Walnut River at Winfield crested at 36.84 feet at 9:15 p.m. Wednesday. That is 4.16 feet lower than its highest recorded level and 0.97 foot lower than its crest in 1998. Statistics show last week’s levels were the 8th-highest for the Walnut at Winfield:
1.) 41.00 feet in 1928
2.) 38.30 feet in 1944
3.) 38.20 feet in 1923
4.) 37.81 feet in 1998
5.) 37.80 feet in 1951
6.) 37.75 feet in 1995
7.) 37.30 feet in 1995
8.) 36.84 feet in 2019
9.) 36.00 feet in 1951
10.) 35.97 feet in 1965
