Severe weather bypasses area
By MIKE CORN
The threat of severe weather overshadowed much of the region Tuesday.
But by the time the storm system moved through northwest Kansas, it ended up being little more than a good old-fashioned thunderstorm, complete with thirst-quenching rain.
And very little severe weather.
Granted, there was plenty of lightning, and a bit of hail, perhaps in some areas of Ness and Rush counties.
The National Weather Service in Dodge City, however, was searching to determine if any flooding followed in the wake of the storms.
They hadn't found any as of this morning, according to Larry Ruthi, meteorologist in charge of the Dodge City office.
Rainfall totals, however, could have prompted a spate of small-stream flooding, he reasoned.
In southwest Ness County, for example, 3.27 inches of rain fell overnight, according to data posted on the Community Collaborative Rain, Snow and Hail Network Web site.
Russell County observers reported as much as 1.12 inches.
Another 2.5 inches of rain fell east of Schoenchen along the Smoky Hill River, already well above normal -- for now, at least, well below flood stage -- because of rains Monday. A band of heavy rains paralleled the Smoky Hill River on Monday morning, pushing water levels higher.
In southwest Ellis County, rainfall amounted to about 1.5 inches.
Trego County observers reported 1.4 to 2.08 inches.
At the Kansas State University Agricultural Research Center, south of Hays, the rainfall amounted to 0.74 of an inch.
While there were reports of heavy rain, there were even more reports of little to no rain. Far northwest Kansas, for example, reported light showers, generally less than half-an-inch.
And where there were heavy rainfall reports, there were no problems -- at least none the weather bureau could find.
"We're in the process of seeing if there is anything," Ruthi said of flooding reports this morning.
He told of heavy rains elsewhere, in Hodgeman County, for example, and even some in the southern part of Trego County.
"I'm pretty sure we got significant rain, but we don't have any reports of flooding," he said.
The NWS, however, shortly after issued a flood warning for the Smoky Hill River downstream of Schoenchen, effective this afternoon through Thursday morning.
This morning, the river stood at a depth of 5.2 feet, with minor flooding forecast. Flood stage on the river is 11 feet, with the forecast calling for water levels to rise to 12.5 feet by this evening. That is only slightly higher than the 12.4 feet recorded June 1.
When the river reaches a depth of 13 feet, minor flooding is expected in southeast Ellis County, perhaps closing some county roads.
The river should fall below flood stage by early Thursday.
All of the severe weather remained to the south of Hays, Ruthi said.
And as for the flooding, or lack of it, Ruthi thinks the dry conditions -- low farm ponds, terraces and thirsty soils -- might be responsible.
"It looks like a lot of it has gone into the ground," he said. "We're using it where we ought to be using it rather than letting it run off."
Meanwhile, Ruthi said, today's forecast for the Hays area is for a "very pleasant day," even though storms are forecast for far southeast Kansas.
"Up in your part of the world, I don't think we should see anything," he said. "It should be a very nice day. So enjoy it."