Storms pummel area, but bring much-needed rain

<b>Downed branches block part of S. 12th Street between Morrison Avenue and Washington Street Sunday morning. </b>Salina Post photos — **Downed branches block part of S. 12th Street between Morrison Avenue and Washington Street Sunday morning.** Salina Post photos

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post

On a beautiful Sunday morning, Salinans were out picking up branches and other debris left in the wake of the thunderstorms that rolled through the area Saturday night.

Occasionally, a chainsaw could be heard revving as larger tree limbs were being made ready for removal.

While the storms brought much-needed rain to the area, they also included hail and high winds that knocked down tree branches and caused power outages. At 8:39 p.m. Saturday, a 78 mph wind gust was recorded at the Salina Regional Airport.

<b>A downed branch blocks a sidewalk while another hangs from a Silver Maple tree (foreground) along Mission Road.</b> — **A downed branch blocks a sidewalk while another hangs from a Silver Maple tree (foreground) along Mission Road.**

At one point Saturday night, approximately 7,000 Evergy customers in the Salina area were without electricity, as were more than 2,100 DS&O customers. Just before 11 a.m., 198 Evergy customers in Salina and fewer than five customers in Assaria and Carlton were still without electricity. DS&O was reporting no outages.

The National Weather Service recorded numerous reports of hail Saturday, including the following.

Lincoln: 1.5-inch hail reported at 6:30 p.m.

Beverly: 1-inch hail reported at 7:04 p.m.

One mile north-northeast of Beverly: 1.25-inch hail reported at 7:16 p.m.

Kanopolis: 1-inch hail reported at 8:07 p.m.

Seven miles west-northwest of New Cambria: 1.75-inch hail reported at 8:13 p.m.

One mile west of New Cambria: 1.75-inch hail reported at 8:17 p.m.

Five miles northwest of Smolan: 1-inch hail reported at 8:25 p.m.

Marquette: 1.25-inch hail reported at 8:36 p.m.

Two miles south-southeast of Salina: 1-inch hail reported at 8:40 p.m.

Marquette: 1.25-inch hail reported at 9:36 p.m.

<b>Another residence on Mission Road also lost a large limb.</b> — **Another residence on Mission Road also lost a large limb.**

At times, heavy downpours caused street and road flooding in parts of Salina and Saline County, prompting Saline County Emergency Management to issue a series of severe weather updates on the county Facebook page, including one at 10 p.m.:

PLEASE STAY OFF THE ROAD. There continues to be water, stalled vehicles, and (west of the city) cows blocking the road. If you must drive, slow down and avoid standing water.

At the Salina Regional Airport, 1.74 inches of rain was reported. In southeast Salina, near the Eagle Radio Studios, 2.60 inches of rain was reported, while approximately 2.35 inches was reported in northwestern Salina.

Following are some other shots from around Salina.

<b>The storm fell part of this fruit tree at the corner of Glendale Road and Corsaut Court.</b> — **The storm fell part of this fruit tree at the corner of Glendale Road and Corsaut Court.**

<b>A large limb came down on the Kansas Wesleyan University campus.</b> — **A large limb came down on the Kansas Wesleyan University campus.**

<b>This limb came down along W. Bond Street.</b> — **This limb came down along W. Bond Street.**

<b>A downed limb along W. South Street just east of S. Eighth Street.</b> — **A downed limb along W. South Street just east of S. Eighth Street.**

<b>A man cuts up branches in the northwest parking lot at N. Santa Fe Avenue and W. Ash Street.</b> — **A man cuts up branches in the northwest parking lot at N. Santa Fe Avenue and W. Ash Street.**

<b>A broken limb hangs from a tree on Park Street.</b> — **A broken limb hangs from a tree on Park Street.**

<b>A downed limb on Custer Street.</b> — **A downed limb on Custer Street.**

<b>A large limb also came down in Sunset Park.</b> — **A large limb also came down in Sunset Park.**