By MIKE CORN

mcorn@dailynews.net

Heavy rain sent floodwaters over highways in Logan County overnight, shutting down power to at least three communities.

Exact rainfall totals were difficult to obtain because the area is sparsely populated, but radar estimates put the totals at anywhere from 6 to 12 inches in an area stretching from south of Colby and covering eastern Logan County and western Gove County.

"Five inches is about the most we've found," said Jim Boyd, Logan County's road foreman. "They haven't found anything like that yet."

But crews were out in force this morning, checking roads to see what the extent of damage might be.

Likely, he said, a couple roads will remain closed at least until the water goes down.

What worries him the most, however, is the forecast for a repeat tonight.

"We might have a 70-percent chance of a rerun," he said. "I think with a little bit of blading and filling up with sand, we'll be all right."

But the heavy rainfall caused problems overnight.

Water was flowing over U.S. Highway 40 between Oakley and Monument on Monday night, said George "Pappy" Lies, emergency management director for both Gove and Logan counties. The Kansas Department of Transportation, he said, was back out early this morning clearing debris from the roadway.

Water also was flowing over the roadway on Kansas Highway 25 north of Russell Springs.

"This was very shallow, just north of Russell Springs," he said.

Calls to several people in the area targeted by radar estimates of rainfaill went unanswered.

While the Monument Rocks area in southwest Gove County reportedly received heavy rain, no one in the area could be reached to determine just how much fell.

At Keystone Gallery several miles to the west, just inside Logan County, Chuck Bonner reported only 1.8 inches of rain.

"We were on the west side of it," he said. "We were looking at the radar."

The roadway leading to Monument Rocks is something of a fair weather road, but Bonner said the sun already was shining on it, starting the drying process.

Lies also reported that several Midwest Energy power lines had been toppled by heavy rain, cutting power to Winona, Page City and Monument in Logan County.

Power to the communities had been out for several hours but was turned back on early this morning.

Those poles still are damaged, but standing in a big pool of water.

Once the water recedes, the poles will have to be replaced.

Midwest spokesman Bob Helm said about only 37 customers remained without power this morning.

Despite the heavy rain, no flooding was reported along the Smoky Hill River, according to river gauges maintained by the National Weather Service.

At Elkader, about 22 miles south of Oakley, the river crested at 6.35 feet, well below flood stage.

The gauge at Arnold, upstream of Cedar Bluff, crested at 3.42 feet, also well below flood stage.