UPDATE 11:51 a.m. Storm Water Withdrawing:
The heavy rain and thunderstorms across the Kansas City area Friday are receding.
According to Chris Bowman, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill, the main event appears to be over.
"It's just really kind of cleaning up from the morning's heavy rain," Bowman said.
Bowman said the Missouri River is in flood downstream at Sibley, but not in Kansas City. The Indian Creek broke flood stage Friday morning, prompting the fire department to evacuate businesses and homes along 103rd Street between State Line and Wornall roads. However, Bowman says it has since leveled off below flood stage.
"The forecast calls for it to continue [leveling off] in the afternoon before it starts to decrease by this evening," says Bowman.
Brush Creek came within a few feet of flood stage, but Bowman says its levels are coming down.
An area of thunderstorms developed across East Central Kansas and West Central Missouri during the night. Bowman said they initially produced quarter-sized hail, but the storms then transitioned into heavy rain and flooding hazards.
Most of the rain in Johnson County fell in Olathe, Kan. with 4.5 inches recorded. Two inches of rain fell in the downtown Kansas City area.
Although Bowman says the water levels appear to be receding, a cold front could bring additional thunderstorms.
"Based off the previous rainfall across the area, everything is so saturated that if we get any kind of thunderstorm to go over all of the saturated areas, it's going to lead to rapid runoff and flash flooding," he says.
The Original Post Begins Here:
Heavy rain and thunderstorms caused areas of major flooding across the Kansas City area Friday.
James Garrett, Public Information Officer for the Kansas City Fire Department, says the ground around Indian Creek is heavily saturated and is no longer holding water.
The rising waters prompted the fire department to evacuate businesses and homes along 103rd Street between State Line and Wornall roads.
Rescuers were called to areas of high water across the metro, including northeast Kansas City, southern Kansas City, Olathe and Overland Park. Those areas were also impacted by flooding caused by heavy rainfall on the Memorial Day holiday.
Flash flood warnings remain in effect for multiple areas in Kansas and Missouri, including portions of Johnson and Jackson counties. More rain is expected this afternoon.
Drivers should be extra cautious. If there are areas where water covers the roadway, the National Weather Service says the depth may be too great for safe passage.
