Print edition: 
Several tornado warnings were issued Thursday night as a series of strong thunderstorms moved through the area, flooding city streets and washing out all the evening events at the Wichita River Festival.
The festival's president and CEO, Janet Wright, said those attending evening events were told they could seek shelter in nearby buildings when the first warning was issued about 6:45 p.m.
Some took cover in Century II, she said, while others found shelter in Exploration Place, WaterWalk or the Hyatt Regency Wichita.
The National Weather Service later issued a flash flood warning after an estimated 2 inches of rain fell in Wichita. Emergency dispatchers received several reports of downed power lines and malfunctioning traffic signals. They received at least two reports of manhole covers that had been moved by the floodwaters.
Westar Energy reported that as of 9:30 p.m., 8,700 of its customers in Sedgwick County and nearly 1,900 in Butler County were without power.
Forecasters were predicting calmer weather today with highs in the upper 80s and a 20 percent chance of more thunderstorms.
