Topeka sees record rainfall of 2.31 inches Monday
Possibly heavy rainfall could return Wednesday night
Topeka saw a record rainfall of 2.31 inches of rain Monday, according to the National Weather Service in Topeka.
The city’s old rainfall record for June 9 was 1.93 inches, set in 1941, the weather service said.
An additional 0.12 of an inch of rain had been received as of 10 a.m. Tuesday for a total of 2.43 inches, the weather service reported from Topeka’s Philip Billard Municipal Airport.
Other rainfall totals recorded by the NWS were 2.47 inches at Forbes Field; 2.67 inches at Manhattan Regional Airport; and 2.68 inches at Lawrence Municipal Airport.
As rainfall tapered off and left the area Tuesday morning, the weather service cautioned that some area creeks and rivers were at or near flood stage.
Shawnee County dispatch said law enforcement hadn’t received any reports of flooding over roadways Tuesday morning.
The weather service reported minor flooding of the Wakarusa River at Wakarusa. At 11:15 a.m., the water level was reported at 16.19 feet. However, it was back down to 11.56 feet at 4:15 p.m. The river’s flood stage is 15 feet.
Minor flooding also was reported at Mill Creek at Paxico, in Wabaunsee County. At 12:45 p.m., it was observed at 23.83 feet. Its flood stage is 21 feet. It had gone down to 19.64 feet at 3 p.m.
Rainfall and runoff also swelled the Kansas River at Topeka, which was gauged at 16.8 feet at 3:30 p.m., according to the weather service.
After a short break in the rain, chances for possibly heavy rainfall were predicted to return Wednesday night.
The National Weather Service forecast through Monday is:
¦ Wednesday: Sunny with a high near 83. Showers and thunderstorms likely in the evening, mainly after 1 a.m. Thursday.
¦ Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1 p.m. Partly sunny with a high near 76.
¦ Friday: Sunny with a high near 79.
¦ Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny with a high near 83. At night, a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms.
¦ Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. High near 84. At night, showers and thunderstorms likely.
¦ Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny with a high near 85.
