WWW arkcity.net

By FOSS FARRAR
Traveler Staff Writer
reporter@arkcity.net

The two rivers running through Arkansas City are rising due to rain that has fallen since Monday morning, but no flooding is expected, a local official said.

The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook for southeast Kansas including Cowley County. Showers and scattered thunderstorms were expected to continue but were not expected to be strong or severe, the NWS said.

"No river flooding expected at this time, but significant rises expected," said Bob Frazee, emergency management coordinator for Arkansas City.

The Arkansas River was measured at 12 feet at 8 a.m. today, Frazee said. It was expected to crest around 14.5 feet Wednesday night; flood stage is 17 feet.

The Walnut River was expected to crest around 12 feet Thursday morning, after reaching 7.5 feet this morning, he added. Its flood stage is 18 feet.

Frazee said the Tulsa area was getting heavy rain this morning but only "maybe a sprinkle" was expected to fall in the Ark City area.

"Most of this will stay southeast of us for now," he said.

The chance for showers decreases to about 20 percent tonight, according to the NWS. Low is predicted to be 37, with a north wind between 13 and 17 miles per hour, with gusts as high as 29 mph.

"The rest of the week should be nice, with highs in the 60s and lows in the 40s," Frazee said.

Since early Monday morning, Arkansas City has received a little over an inch of rain, he said. Since the first of the year, the rain total is about 5.78 inches, which is double the normal amount for this time of year.