Severe storms roll through Kansas City area, causing power outages that could last days

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the entire Kansas City area as storms rolled across the metro bringing strong winds, heavy rains and lightning, according to the National Weather Service.

At 3:40 p.m., severe thunderstorms stretched along a line from Lansing to Overland Park to six miles southeast of Edgerton. They were moving east at 45 mph.

Along with frequent lightning, the storms were producing strong winds and large hail. Gusts of 70 mph were possible along with quarter-size hail.

“Hail damage to vehicles is expected,” the weather service warned. “Expect considerable tree damage. Wind damage is also likely to mobile homes, roofs, and outbuildings.”

The Evergy electrical utility reported more than 130,000 customers without power in Johnson and Jackson counties. In Wyandotte County, 30,000 were without power and Independence reported another 2,000 outages.

The cities that are expected to be impacted by the storms included Kansas City, Overland Park, Olathe, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Shawnee, Blue Springs, Lenexa, Leavenworth, Leawood, Raytown, Liberty, Gladstone, Grandview, Belton, Prairie Village, Raymore, Gardner, Grain Valley and Lansing.

The warning was in effect until 4:30 p.m.

Roughly 120K across KC metro remain without power

Update 9:57 p.m.As the Kansas City area utility providers were working to restore outages across the metro on Friday night, outage maps showed about 120,000 area residents remained without power.

The largest concentration of power outages was in Johnson County, where an estimated 53,246 customers were affected.

Jackson County had about 36,629 customers without power, and Clay, Cass and Platte counties had 10,752 collectively, according to utility company Evergy’s outage map.

In Wyandotte County, the Board of Public Utilities had 16,697 customers without power.

Evergy, the area’s largest provider, was dealing with outages across Kansas and Missouri on Friday evening. The company estimated restoration efforts could last days for the most severely impacted areas.

More than 1,000 working to restore power Friday: Evergy

Update 8:33 p.m. Kansas City utility provider Evergy had more than 1,000 people out working to restore power for thousands of customers Friday, the company said.

Roughly 186,000 people lost power at the height of the storm as strong winds knocked down power lines across the metro area. As of Friday night, the utility said line crews were responding to some 3,500 reported outage events.

Employees working along line crews included vegetation and safety support teams, the company said. Other utilities in neighboring Iowa, Colorado and Oklahoma were being reached to provide further assistance.

The company continued to warn Friday that restoration efforts could last days in the most severely impacted areas of its service network.

Wyandotte County extends recycling center hours to handle storm debris

Updated 7:31 p.m.As severe storms knocked down trees and caused damage to homes, the recycling center in Wyandotte County was extending its hours of operation to help with cleanup efforts.

Public works of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas announced Friday the Recycling & Yard Waste Center, 3241 Park Drive, would be open to area residents on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visitors must bring an ID, utility bill or other document proving residency to drop off waste, according to a news release from public works.

Overland Park police ask people in minor crashes to make walk-in reports

Updated 6:48 p.m. Police in Overland Park were asking those involved in minor vehicle crashes without injury on Friday to walk in and make reports on another day given the severe weather.

Officers were still responding to any injury crashes or those where a driver was suspected of being under the influence, the department said in a news release.

Police advise drivers involved in a collision to exchange information including names, addresses, insurance and license plate numbers. Walk-in reports can be made at the Sanders Justice Center, 12400 Foster Street, or the Myron Scafe Building, 8500 Antioch Road.

Storms marginally impact air travel at KCI

Updated 6:19 p.m.The storms had a limited impact on what was expected to be Kansas City International Airport’s busiest day in 15 years.

As the storms rolled in, a couple of departing flights were canceled, said Joe McBride, a spokesman for the airport.

There also were some aircraft that were circling to the east of the airport as the front was approaching and on top of the airport, he noticed on FlightAware, which tracks flights.

Justin Meyer,the Kansas City Aviation Department’s deputy director, posted to Twitter a photo of an aircraft pushing back from the gate and ominous storm clouds.

“Riders on the storm,” he said in the post.

Earlier in the day, he said MCI was expecting its busiest travel day in 15 years with airlines operating 47,714 arriving and departing seats at the airport.

Time-lapse video shows storm roll through downtown KC

Updated 6:08 p.m.A time-lapse video captured from Kansas City’s skyline shows severe storm clouds move over the metro, casting downtown into a brief period of darkness on Friday afternoon.

Storms moving eastward from Kansas brought flashes heavy rain, lightning and thunder Friday afternoon. They also brought heavy winds that knocked down trees and power lines around the city.

The video, shared on Twitter by The Heavy Constructors Association (HCA) of Greater Kansas City, came with a simple message: “Stay safe out there Kansas City.”

More outages reported in KC, Independence, Wyandotte County

Updated 5:56 p.m.Power outages were affecting an estimated 200,000 Kansas City area residents as further service interruptions were reported in Wyandotte County and Independence.

Wyandotte County’s Kansas City (Kansas) Board of Public Utilities reported 30,000 outages after Friday’s storm rolled through, downing trees and power lines across the metro. Independence Power and Light reported another 2,000 outages.

Utility company Evergy, the main supplier in Kansas City, had about 165,000 outages to handle on Friday evening. The company said restoration for the most severely impacted areas could last days.

KCFD responds to dozens of emergency reports amid storm

Updated 5:38 p.m. The Kansas City Fire Department was dispatched to dozens of locations as the storm unleashed, causing widespread damage to power lines, trees and even some homes.

Shortly after the brunt of the rain began, a car at Linwood Boulevard and Main Street was struck by a tree. The person initially was trapped, but was able to get out of the vehicle shortly thereafter.

Power lines were reportedly down at numerous locations throughout the city including the 7600 block of McGee, the 3900 block of East Myrtle and the 400 block of East 74th St.

Fire officials were alerting Evergy about locations and if there were any hazards. In at least one location the line was smoldering.

Traffic lights at Bannister Road near U.S. 71 were also knocked out. There were also reports of blown transformers and one residence where a tree had fallen into the kitchen.

Highways see some rush-hour backups as rain subsides

Updated 5:20 p.m.Commuters on area Kansas City highways were seeing some backups near downtown and in the Northland as storm clouds began to clear Friday, according to live traffic feeds from Kansas City Scout.

Interstate 35 had backups in the northbound lanes at Southwest Trafficway and in the Northland near Parvin Road. Other small pockets of traffic congestion were seen at U.S. 71 Highway, I-670, I-70 and _435.

Power outages affect 130K, ‘multiday restoration effort’ expected

Updated 5:02 p.m. Kansas City utility supplier Evergy reported widespread outages across its service network affecting an estimated 130,000 customers as power restoration was expected to span days.

Severe storms carrying wind gusts up to 100 mph hit the area Friday, causing outages across the metro, the utility company said on social media and its website. Evergy said line crews would stay be staying on shift to address problems.

“We expect restoration in the areas most severely impacted to be a multiday restoration effort,” the company said. “In events with widespread outages, individual estimated restoration times are not available.

What to do about storm damage in Kansas City

Updated 4:54 p.m. If you woke up to fallen trees, downed power lines or other dangerous conditions, safety always comes first.

Leave any houses or other buildings that may have structural damage. Do not attempt to clean up heavy debris by yourself. Stay away from any downed power lines, even if your electricity is out.

Keep children and pets away from these hazards too. Here’s how to handle a power outage in Kansas City.

Depending on your car, home or other insurance, you may need photos or video to prove that damage occurred as a result of a storm. It never hurts to take pictures of any and all damage before you start cleaning up your yard or property.

If you are a tenant, these photos can also help show your landlord what happened. Never go near a downed power line or other hazard in order to get a photo. Take photos and video from a safe distance and show the extent of the damage done.

Severe thunderstorm warning issued for eastern Jackson County

Updated 4:47 p.m.A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for eastern Jackson County, including Independence, Lee’s Summit and Blue Springs. It was in effect until 5:00 p.m., according to the National Weather Service in Kansas City.

This storm is expected to contain wind gusts up to 70 mph.

Drivers stuck in flooded road in Northland

Updated 4:44 p.m.At 4:35 p.m., emergency radio dispatchers said there was water over the road at N.E. Vivion Road and N.E. Chouteau Trafficway in Kansas City’s Northland.

Four vehicles were stuck in the water, but all of the occupants were able to get out of their cars.

Emergency vehicles were being advised to avoid the intersection.

Flash flood warning issued in Kansas City’s Northland

Updated 4:36 p.m. Kansas City’s Northland was at risk of flash flooding on Friday amid severe thunderstorms in the metropolitan area, according to the National Weather Service.

Residents of Clay and Platte counties were warned of heavy rainfall that could amount to up to nearly 4 inches on Friday, the weather service said. The flood warning was to remain in effect until 7 p.m.

Flooding was possible along small creeks and streams, urban areas and highways along with places with poor drainage and low-lying areas, the weather service said. At risk were parts of Kansas City, Smithville, Platte City, Ferrelview, Tracy, Ridgely, Hoover and the Kansas City International Airport.

Commuters were warned not to drive through floodwater.

Power outages in KC metro area

Updated 4:28 p.m.The electrical utility Evergy reported thousands of customers without power as the storms rolled in the Kansas City area.

The utility reported 59,395 without power in Johnson County.

It reported 33,379 without power in Jackson County, Missouri.

Tornado warning expires in Lawrence

Updated 3:46 p.m. Douglas County emergency management was warning people to take shelter for fear of tornadoes in the area on Friday afternoon.

A tornado warning was issued at 2:38 p.m. by Douglas County Emergency Management for Lecompton and North Lawrence.

Roughly 25 minutes later, the agency said the tornado warning had passed but the threat of severe thunderstorms remained in effect, bringing wind gusts as strong as 80 mph and nickel-sized hail.

Lawrence police officers also reported seeing funnel clouds near Bob Billings Parkway and Wakarusa Drive, according to the department’s Twitter account.

“These were funnel clouds, nothing on the ground,” the department said in a subsequent tweet.

©2023 The Kansas City Star. Visit kansascity.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.