Thousands without power as storm with high winds moves through Wichita area
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Storm with 101 mph winds caused power outages and damage across Wichita.
- Over 30,000 Evergy customers lost power; 15,000 remained without service by 10 a.m.
- Emergency crews responded to downed trees, flooded roads and snapped power poles.
Thunderstorms moving through south-central Kansas Tuesday morning caused wind damage, flash flooding and power outages across the region, including in Wichita.
The National Weather Service recorded a 101 mph wind gust at 4:22 a.m. at the Eisenhower National Airport in Wichita. Several other locations reported gusts of 60 mph or more.
The storm dumped more than 2 inches of rain at the airport by 10 a.m., according to the National Weather Service’s hourly rainfall totals posted online. Forecasters are predicting more showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening, mainly after 7 p.m. and continuing into Wednesday morning. Some could produce heavy rainfall and be severe.
A flood watch is in effect for Sedgwick and surrounding counties until 1 p.m. Wednesday.
At least 30,000 Evergy customers in Sedgwick County lost power, “with Wichita seeing the hardest impact,” the company said on Facebook.
More than 15,000 customers were still without power around 10 a.m., according to its outage map.
“Crews are out this morning assessing damage and working to restore power as quickly and safely as possible. Estimated restoration times are currently delayed while assessments continue,” the company said.
Several traffic lights were out due to power outages across the city, including in downtown, and straight line winds blew the roof off of a building in the Planeview Neighborhood, blocking at least one street in the area.
Sedgwick County Emergency Management also received several reports of downed limbs, tree damage, power line damage and flooded streets Tuesday morning, including:
- Vehicles stranded in high water across the city
- Downed trees blocking roadways
- Traffic light outages at the Central Business District exit off of Kellogg
- Patrol officers blocking traffic around George Washington Boulevard and Pawnee due to flooding
Damage reports to the National Weather Service include:
- A large tree that fell on homes in the 1200 block of South Pershing, trapping one person inside
- A four-foot diameter tree that fell into a power line and snapped a pole around Arkansas City
- Two power poles “snapped off” around Rose Hill
- Four inches of rainfall around 7:40 a.m. that left several roads impassable in the McPherson area
- Several downed tree branches and a power pole leaning over a street in the Derby area
- Wind gusts topping 80 mph in Cowley and Sumner counties
- Downed trees and a street light blocking the road in the 600 block of East 36th Street in Newton
The city of Wichita is encouraging residents to use its “report an issue” phone app and website to report downed trees and other storm-related road hazards.
More weather coverage from The Eagle
When will your power come back on? Evergy is working on it, getting more help
Tuesday-morning storm topples, mangles a popular Kansas roadside attraction
‘Community full of resolve’: Cleanup efforts underway at Wichita Open
Building that houses decades-old Wichita boxing club floods after roof is blown off
This story was originally published June 17, 2025 at 10:35 AM.
