Moderate flooding is expected on the Walnut River in Winfield as a result of heavy rains that fell Tuesday in the Wichita area.
As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, the river was at 16.6 feet and expected to continue rising to a crest of 28.5 feet Friday evening. The level would then fall below flood stage of 18 feet by Saturday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
At 28 feet, west 14th Ave. near the fairgrounds floods from the river eastward to the levee. The entrances along 14th Ave. and the street itself will likely close to traffic depending on the water level, city manager Taggart Wall said.
Multiple city departments have held an internal meeting to discuss plans for flooding. Just under seven inches of rain fell in El Dorado over a 36 hour period and similar totals were reported in areas of the east Wichita metropolitan area.
Upstream rain from Augusta arrives in Winfield typically within 24 to 30 hours and El Dorado rain takes longer than that, Wall said.
City staff have notified those camping to vacate the area and moved up electric boxes at the Fairgrounds. Additionally, crews have begun preparations to move other equipment and items out of potential flood areas at the fairgrounds.
Wall said there are a few events scheduled for the Fairgrounds that the city is in contact with regarding use of the space — depending on the outcome of the forecast, those events may or may not proceed. El Dorado Lake has released some water but has utilized storage areas to do so.
Minor flooding is expected on the Arkansas River and Walnut River in Ark City.
The Arkansas River rose above Flood stage of 11 foot as of 6 a.m. Wednesday and is expected to crest at 13.5 feet after midnight Wednesday into Thursday.
As of 2 pm today Wednesday, the Arkansas river was at 13.1 feet and slowly rising. (Continue story below ad.)
Ark City Stormwater/Public Works crews have closed three Stormwater gates on the Arkansas River levee.
The Walnut River in Ark City is forecast to crest at 19.5 Foot on Friday afternoon, (18 Feet is Flood stage for the Walnut River at Arkansas City). As of 2 p.m. Wednesday the Walnut was at 15.7 feet and was rising.
All the Stormwater gates on the Walnut River levee were closed Wednesday by City Stormwater/Public Works crews, with exception of the ones on the bypass north of the roundabout on the “C” Street canal.
Walnut Park and Knebler Pond area were closed today.
Chestnut Avenue between the U.S. 77 Highway Levee and Crestwood will be closed.to traffic by 3 p.m. Wednesday by Creswell Township crews.
