Severe Storms Rip Through State
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Updated: 8:40 AM Jun 4, 2008
Severe Storms Rip Through State
Severe storms packed a punch in south-central Kansas Tuesday night, causing damage to buildings and scattering debris across roadways. An airport in Cowley County recorded a 112-mile-per-hour wind gust.
Posted: 7:59 AM Jun 4, 2008
Email Address: news@kake.com
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Severe storms packed a punch in south-central Kansas Tuesday night.

Gusts up to 60 miles per hour were reported in Sedgwick and Sumner Counties. An airport in Cowley County recorded a 112-mile-per-hour wind gust. The winds caused damage to some buildings, ripped off tree limbs, downed power lines and caused some power outages.

Mulvane received some of the worst damage. Winds ripped off the roof of 3,000 square feet of the high school's roof and damaged ceiling tiles in the school office, the National Weather Service stated.

Sumner County Emergency Management Director James Fair said the storms also downed power lines and tree limbs in other areas of Sumner County.

It was a similar situation in Cowley County. Cowley County emergency management volunteer Justin Oauppe said a house was destroyed around Burton and knocked out power to the town.

The county's emergency management office said there were reports of damage to buildings in Wellington, but were not able to confirm the reports as of Tuesday night.

In Barber County, there was even more damage from the severe weather. Authorities there said Hardtner's school gymnasium roof is gone, and one leg of a grain elevator is missing. At least one resident reported windows blown out at their home.

Outside of the town, trees were blown over, leaving behind a half-mile of trail of debris.

Authorities released an update to the damage Wednesday morning. They said winds between 70-90 miles per hour blew 18-wheelers off the road, brought down trees and power lines and toppled billboards.

The National Weather Service said Tuesday night that funnel clouds were reported in several counties in both states, though there were no reports of touchdowns.

Lightning from the first round of storms was blamed for a massive fire in a fuel storage tank containing 2.5 million gallons of gasoline in Kansas City, Kansas. The fire continues to send flames and dark smoke into the sky this morning.

Up to three inches of rain fell in areas of Johnson County and golf-ball sized hail was reported near Franklin County in eastern Kansas. Spotters reported an overturned semi truck in Wilson County in southeast Kansas.

Mother Nature should calm down today. KAKE Meteorologist Blake Smith said highs should be in the 90s around Wichita and in the 100s in southwest Kansas today.


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