Storms bring heavy rains, flash flooding, water rescues to parts of Kansas City metro – MASHAHER

Thunderstorms opened up over the Kansas City Monday, bringing nearly seven inches of rain in six hours to parts of the metro.

The southern half of the Kansas City area saw the heaviest amount of rain, including 6.62 inches near 87th Lane along Mill Creek in Lenexa, according to StormWatch.com, an early warning system for flash flooding that relies on remote weather stations through the Kansas city area.

The heavy rains prompted the weather service to issue several flash flood warnings for the metro. The deluge of rain caused area creeks to spill over their banks and flooded streets. The fast rising water caught drivers off guard as they tried to pass through, requiring some to be rescued.

There were a few high water areas where cars got stuck, including on East 99th Street near Indian Creek, where crews arrived to help but the car was already emptied when they got to the scene, according to Michael Hopkins, a spokesperson for the Kansas City Fire Department.

In Overland Park, several intersections closed due to flooding and have since reopened, including West 79th Street and Frontage Road, West 95th Street and Outlook Drive and West 119th Street from Grant Street to Three Lakes Parkway.

Several vehicles were stuck in flood waters and some may have been damaged or totaled as drivers tried to pass through flooded areas. Officer John Lacy, a spokesperson for the police department, said no water rescues were necessary.

Leawood police in a social media post asked drivers to use caution as the “torrential rains caused flooding throughout the city.”

At one point, State Line Road north of Interstate 435 and Tomahawk Creek Parkway were impassable due to the rising waters, Leawood police said.

Leawood police said they had a few non-evasive water rescues for people driving through high flood waters which disabled their vehicles.

Prairie Village police tweeted photos of flooding along Brush Creek at Mission Drive in Mission Hills.

“Today is a good reminder of how quickly the water can rise,” Prairie Village police said. “Stay safe and turn around if you need to!”

Grandview police didn’t have any water rescues, but reported at least six different roadways in the city that flooded and required detours.