Dodge City, Kan. – Thunderstorms sweeping across southwest and central Kansas late Monday night are expected to keep roads hazardous into early Tuesday morning, with a moderate risk of flash flooding from Dodge City to Wichita. Emergency officials warn that floodwaters are harder to spot in the dark, making nighttime travel especially dangerous.
According to the National Weather Service in Dodge City, the heaviest rainfall is expected in a corridor stretching from Dodge City through Larned and south toward the Oklahoma border. Rainfall rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour could overwhelm drainage systems and cause rapid rises in low-lying areas. The Weather Prediction Center estimates at least a 40% chance of flash flooding within 25 miles of the red-shaded zone on the flood potential map.
Drivers are urged to avoid flooded roads, turn around instead of attempting to cross standing water, and keep an emergency kit and charged phone in their vehicles. Rural roads and underpasses may become impassable before sunrise…