Flash Flood in Barton County, Kansas

Flash flooding was reported throughout the county. Highway 96 9 miles west of Great Bend was closed as water started flowing over the road. An observer in the area reported 3.22 inches of rain in just 3 hours. Highway 56 in Pawnee Rock was closed due to flood water. In Hoisington the intersection of 3rd Street and Main was closed due to high water. An observer reported approximately 3 inches of rain in 3 hours in that part of Barton County. 70 to 80 homes were flooded on the north side of Ellinwood. According to Barton County Emergency Management, the county documented roughly 30 million dollars in damage. This includes damages to private property including crop damage, damage to farm equipment, farmsteads and public roads. The Great Bend Tribune contributed to this narrative.

A powerful but slow moving storm system that brought numerous tornadoes to Central and Southwest Kansas also brought significant flooding to parts of Central Kansas. The storms that produced the tornadoes on May 4th-5th brought with them very heavy rain. More storms tracked over nearly the same places on May 5th and into May 6th which when added to the rain from the previous night caused significant flash flooding and eventually record river flooding at Haven in Reno County. Moderate river flooding also occurred along the Mulberry Creek in Salina and the Smoky Hill River at Mentor and New Cambria.