Torrential rain causes flooding around Wichita (VIDEOS)

A strong cold front brought torrential rain to the Wichita area Monday evening, causing localized flooding and knocking out power for more than 4,000 homeowners.

Between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain fell over most of the city in about two hours.

“So far, the heaviest rain we’ve gotten is we had a report out of Kellogg and Hillside of 2.7 inches,” said Brad Ketcham, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Wichita.

Street flooding was reported on arterial routes across the city, snarling the rush hour commute.

“We have had some reports of some stalled cars from driving through high water,” Ketcham said. “The best thing to tell people is just turn around, don’t drown. Just stay out of the high water, turn around, and find another route.”

Law enforcement officials were especially warning motorists away from the 100 to 300 blocks of South Bleckley, near Douglas; and Pawnee from Hydraulic to west of Meridian.

Water over the roadway and intersection flooding was also reported at Webb and 101st Street North, Oliver and Central, the westbound Kellogg exit ramp at Oliver, the 8000 block of North Greenwich Road, Greenwich Road and Turtle Creek Circle, and 77th Street North and Oliver.

A vehicle was reported to have gone partially off a bridge at 21st and Mosley. No one was injured.

In neighboring Butler County, emergency officials reported receiving several calls of downed power lines and uprooted trees.

The weather service issued a countywide flash flood warning, set to expire at 8:15 p.m.

At about 6 p.m., 2,500 Westar Energy customers in Sedgwick County were without power, said Gina Penzig, a spokeswoman for the utility.

An additional 1,500 customers were blacked out in Butler County, Penzig said.

Following more rainfall an hour later, the outages had grown to 4,200 customers in Sedgwick County and about 1,800 in Butler, mostly in and east of El Dorado, according to Westar.

This story was originally published July 6, 2015 at 6:31 PM with the headline " Torrential rain causes flooding around Wichita (VIDEOS)."