The Rain And Kansas City
Written By: Ruth Muhtsun
Water is the most vital necessity for all life. Yet, too much of a good thing is, well, never a good thing. While some regions of the globe are experiencing drought, Mid westerners are lamenting over the excessive spring rain fall. When the torrential snowfall finally let up, Kansas City residents replaced parkas with ponchos and umbrellas became another appendage. Those grey stormy days caused more than frizzy hair. Many in the metro area lost power and encountered other catastrophes during rampant thunderstorms. Flooding waterways impeded summer tourism for Missourians. Even in the latter months of summer, we are feeling the impact of a wet spring in the ecological and agricultural world.
Everyone in Kansas City was abruptly wakened at least once this spring from banging thunder, that was followed by blinding lightning. While some of us were fortunate enough to roll over and go back to bed, others had to endure the wrath of nature. In early April, the Kansas City area experienced a storm so intense that tractors were reportedly overturned on major highways. Some freeways were closed due to conditions until midday. Metro riders like myself waded through water while being assaulted by water drops as the streets and sidewalks flooded. Kansas City Power & Light Company counted over 21,000 customers without power. In south Kansas City, park crews spent the day cleaning up 40 trees in public streets. The roof and back wall of a barn at Kansas City International Airport containing salt to treat roads during inclement weather were blown off during the storm. The rainy days continued with a short break in May and June. Then in July another major storm hit the metro. Rush hour was stalled by flash flooding and strong winds blowing at 70 miles per hour. All around trees and power lines were toppling into the streets. In less than an hour, 3 inches of rain had fallen in Leavenworth and Platte counties. High water on the roadways prompted several police departments in aiding trapped civilians. A deputy for the Jackson County Sheriff reported a “gustnado” north of Lee’s Summit. A meteorologist for the National Weather Service described the “gustnado” as a brief spin up from the ground caused by a gust of wind. Luckily, no damages were reported. Within Kansas City the storm brought approximately 2 inches of water and left 30,000 residents without electricity.
Heavy precipitation has flooded many campsites and boat ramps at area lakes putting a halt to summer fun for some. According to the Corps of Engineers at Milford lake, storms beginning in mid June claimed nearly 300 campsites. The Corps of Engineers advised extreme caution for tourist willing to venture in road sign and grill infested waters. Owners of marinas near Milford Lake expected to loose half of their 30,000 - 40,000 visitors during Fourth of July weekend. Natives hoping to spend their weekend at Tuttle Creek Lake found that nature had rained on their parade. By early July, Tuttle Creek Lake experienced a rainy season that put it 27 feet above normal levels. Furthermore, the water from these lakes cannot be drained into the Missouri River as usual because the same heavy rains have caused its levels to rise, even to the point of flooding. May showers forced business owners and tourists to patiently endured a soaked and swampy Fourth of July.
The unusual rainy season also greatly effected food growers. The humid atmosphere and constant showers in early spring left Kansas corn farmers with a fungal and rust epidemic. According to Farm Talk online, rust tends to spread during seasons of high wind activity from the south brings spores to the Midwest. Heavy rains spread the spores and fungus throughout fields, which grow exponentially in pools of standing water. Moreover, these pools create a dilemma for farmers wanting to apply fungicides to young vulnerable corn stalks. The University of Missouri - Columbia reported the concern of nitrogen loss in corn fields from intense spring showers. All life, including plants, require nitrogen to create amino acids, proteins, and DNA. Due to the erosion of soil on many farms, growers are urged to participate in a rescue nitrogen application. Last year an estimate 113 million bushels of corn were lost, and this it is predicted more will be lost. This is vital as America, especially the Midwest, grows almost half of the world’s corn supply. It is not only harvested for human consumption, but also is used as livestock feed. Producers of other vegetation are experiencing similar problems. Severe precipitation and flooding causes plant roots to rot. This damage hinders the sustainability of plants during growing season. With the heat wave looming over the area, planters are feeling the blow during harvesting. Growers like Ernest Rogers at the Kansas City Community garden are yielding feeble crops that were expected to ripen weeks earlier. Because of this, Missouri farmers are dubious what yields the next harvest will bring as the hot arid climate has prevented new seeds from germinating. Although the Midwest is not facing a food shortage, the unpredictable weather is kicking farmers in an already down economy.
This year has certainly been a memorable one as far as the weather goes. Winter lasted a little too long, and spring came in on a tidal wave. Kansas City residents weathered some of the toughest storms and celebrated through a damp Fourth of July. Now in the midst of a hot dry summer, Mid westerners are wondering what happened to all that water?
Water is the most vital necessity for all life. Yet, too much of a good thing is, well, never a good thing. While some regions of the globe are experiencing drought, Mid westerners are lamenting over the excessive spring rain fall. When the torrential snowfall finally let up, Kansas City residents replaced parkas with ponchos and umbrellas became another appendage. Those grey stormy days caused more than frizzy hair. Many in the metro area lost power and encountered other catastrophes during rampant thunderstorms. Flooding waterways impeded summer tourism for Missourians. Even in the latter months of summer, we are feeling the impact of a wet spring in the ecological and agricultural world.
Everyone in Kansas City was abruptly wakened at least once this spring from banging thunder, that was followed by blinding lightning. While some of us were fortunate enough to roll over and go back to bed, others had to endure the wrath of nature. In early April, the Kansas City area experienced a storm so intense that tractors were reportedly overturned on major highways. Some freeways were closed due to conditions until midday. Metro riders like myself waded through water while being assaulted by water drops as the streets and sidewalks flooded. Kansas City Power & Light Company counted over 21,000 customers without power. In south Kansas City, park crews spent the day cleaning up 40 trees in public streets. The roof and back wall of a barn at Kansas City International Airport containing salt to treat roads during inclement weather were blown off during the storm. The rainy days continued with a short break in May and June. Then in July another major storm hit the metro. Rush hour was stalled by flash flooding and strong winds blowing at 70 miles per hour. All around trees and power lines were toppling into the streets. In less than an hour, 3 inches of rain had fallen in Leavenworth and Platte counties. High water on the roadways prompted several police departments in aiding trapped civilians. A deputy for the Jackson County Sheriff reported a “gustnado” north of Lee’s Summit. A meteorologist for the National Weather Service described the “gustnado” as a brief spin up from the ground caused by a gust of wind. Luckily, no damages were reported. Within Kansas City the storm brought approximately 2 inches of water and left 30,000 residents without electricity.
Heavy precipitation has flooded many campsites and boat ramps at area lakes putting a halt to summer fun for some. According to the Corps of Engineers at Milford lake, storms beginning in mid June claimed nearly 300 campsites. The Corps of Engineers advised extreme caution for tourist willing to venture in road sign and grill infested waters. Owners of marinas near Milford Lake expected to loose half of their 30,000 - 40,000 visitors during Fourth of July weekend. Natives hoping to spend their weekend at Tuttle Creek Lake found that nature had rained on their parade. By early July, Tuttle Creek Lake experienced a rainy season that put it 27 feet above normal levels. Furthermore, the water from these lakes cannot be drained into the Missouri River as usual because the same heavy rains have caused its levels to rise, even to the point of flooding. May showers forced business owners and tourists to patiently endured a soaked and swampy Fourth of July.
The unusual rainy season also greatly effected food growers. The humid atmosphere and constant showers in early spring left Kansas corn farmers with a fungal and rust epidemic. According to Farm Talk online, rust tends to spread during seasons of high wind activity from the south brings spores to the Midwest. Heavy rains spread the spores and fungus throughout fields, which grow exponentially in pools of standing water. Moreover, these pools create a dilemma for farmers wanting to apply fungicides to young vulnerable corn stalks. The University of Missouri - Columbia reported the concern of nitrogen loss in corn fields from intense spring showers. All life, including plants, require nitrogen to create amino acids, proteins, and DNA. Due to the erosion of soil on many farms, growers are urged to participate in a rescue nitrogen application. Last year an estimate 113 million bushels of corn were lost, and this it is predicted more will be lost. This is vital as America, especially the Midwest, grows almost half of the world’s corn supply. It is not only harvested for human consumption, but also is used as livestock feed. Producers of other vegetation are experiencing similar problems. Severe precipitation and flooding causes plant roots to rot. This damage hinders the sustainability of plants during growing season. With the heat wave looming over the area, planters are feeling the blow during harvesting. Growers like Ernest Rogers at the Kansas City Community garden are yielding feeble crops that were expected to ripen weeks earlier. Because of this, Missouri farmers are dubious what yields the next harvest will bring as the hot arid climate has prevented new seeds from germinating. Although the Midwest is not facing a food shortage, the unpredictable weather is kicking farmers in an already down economy.
This year has certainly been a memorable one as far as the weather goes. Winter lasted a little too long, and spring came in on a tidal wave. Kansas City residents weathered some of the toughest storms and celebrated through a damp Fourth of July. Now in the midst of a hot dry summer, Mid westerners are wondering what happened to all that water?
Posted by Urban Growth KC at 8/13/2010 11:29 AM 
Categories: local views
Tags: stroms kc rain rain in kc floods
Categories: local views
Tags: stroms kc rain rain in kc floods
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