More than 11,000 Westar Energy customers are still without electricity this morning after a strong storm pounded the Wichita area late Wednesday night.
The outages are spread throughout the city, with power lines and some utility poles down, authorities say. Winds of nearly 70 miles an hour were reported at Jabara Airport in northeast Wichita at 10:45 p.m., said Scott Smith, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
“There are reports of downed poles throughout the area,” said Leonard Allen, a Westar spokesman.
He does not have an estimate on the numbers yet, though.
Wichita recorded 2.25 inches of rain from the storm, along with straight line winds that downed tree limbs throughout the city. Many streets flooded in the torrential rains, and roof damage and flooding were reported at Mid-Continent Airport.
A flood warning remains in effect until 8:30 a.m. in eastern Sedgwick County. More rain is possible today,forecasters say, with highs topping out at about 98. But it will be quite muggy, with heat index values of about 105.