Heavy thunderstorms, flash flooding cause road closures throughout KC metro area

Several roadways in the metro area were shut down Saturday night after heavy rain and flash flooding created impassable roads.

Flash flooding that began about 9 p.m. caused officials in Kansas City to barricade several roads and intersections. Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard was barricaded from Elmwood to Troost avenues, as was the area near 63rd Street and Brookside Boulevard.

Barricades were also placed at 75th Street from Wornall Road to Ward Parkway.

Several other roads in the area were deemed impassable by emergency officials because of high water, including the intersection of 39th Street and Prospect Avenue.

Kansas City firefighters responded shortly before 10 p.m. to reports of cars in high water in the 4200 block of Gardner Avenue and 10th and Summit streets, Fire Chief Paul Berardi said.

At least fours cars were reportedly stalled in high water at 51st Street and Ward Parkway, Berardi said.

A separate water rescue at 13105 Blue Parkway was reported about 10:30 p.m. after a vehicle floated in high water. A water rescue was performed about 11:25 p.m. at 43rd Street and Wornall as well.

Impassable roads were also reported in the Country Club Plaza area and in Westport.

Interstate 35 at Lamar Avenue in Mission was shut down in both directions Saturday night after several cars were stranded in high water on the roadway.

Emergency personnel performed several water rescue operations, including one with three people inside a vehicle reportedly floating down southbound I-35 at Lamar Avenue.

Other roads in Kansas deemed impassable include I-35 at Interstate 635, Shawnee Mission Parkway at Mission Road and I-35 at 18th Street Expressway, which was shut down about 10:50 p.m.

Northbound I-35 at Antioch was also shut down.

The National Weather Service issued earlier Saturday a flash flood warning until 4 a.m. Sunday for the metro area.

Affected areas include Johnson, Wyandotte, and Leavenworth counties in Kansas, and Cass, Clay, Jackson, Lafayette, Platte and Ray counties in Missouri.

According to the National Weather Service thunderstorms were expected to produce heavy rain across the area. Up to two inches of rain have fallen across northern Johnson and southern Jackson Counties since shortly before 8 p.m.

Southern Johnson and Cass counties will likely see an additional two to four inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service.

Other areas that could experience flooding include: Overland Park, Olathe, Lee’s Summit, Shawnee, Lenexa, Leawood, Raytown, Grandview, Belton, Prairie Village, Raymore, Gardner, Merriam, Harrisonville, Mission, Pleasant Hill, and Bonner Springs, De Soto and Spring Hill, Kan.

Last week, massive flooding affected multiple areas after several inches of rainfall. Floodwaters prompted water rescues and damaged property and businesses.

This story was originally published August 5, 2017 at 9:33 PM with the headline "Heavy thunderstorms, flash flooding cause road closures throughout KC metro area."