Thunderstorms blow through Kansas City with powerful winds, downing trees, power lines
Powerful thunderstorms with winds reaching as high as 89 mph blew through the Kansas City area, downing trees and causing power outages.
At one point, the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Cass, Ray, Lafayette, Jackson and Johnson counties in Missouri, alerting to the approaching danger.
“THESE ARE DESTRUCTIVE STORMS” for Lee’s Summit, Blue Springs, Oak Grove and points east, the warning said. “89 MPH winds have been observed at the Lee’s Summit weather station.”
The weather service said flying would be dangerous to those caught without shelter, and damage could be done to mobile homes, roofs, windows and vehicles. Extensive tree damage and power outages were likely.
According to its outage map, nearly 9,000 Evergy customers were without power as of Thursday morningaccording to its outage map. The Kansas City, Kansas Board of Public Utilities reported 10 outages impacting 134 customers, and Independence Power and Light reported 10 outages affecting 267 customers.
As the storms rolled through, the weather service issued several warnings, saying radar indicated winds were gusting 60 to 70 mph.
Kansas City sent an urgent alert shortly after 9 p.m. that large trees were toppled and were blocking roads at East 54th Street and Garfield Avenue, East 55th Street and Garfield and East 54th and Euclid Avenue.
According to storm reports submitted to the weather service, the winds caused damage in Clay, Platte, and Jackson counties in Missouri and Wyandotte County in Kansas. Winds also caused damage outside of the immediate metro area.
In Clay County, there were reports of broken tree limbs and shingles blown off roofs. One person reported that 68 mph winds ripped a large tree in half near Chaumiere Woods Park near Interstate 35 and Northeast Chouteau Trafficway.
A trained spotter reported tree limbs were downed and homes damaged near William Jewell College in Liberty. A fireworks tent was flattened near Excelsior Springs.
In Jackson County, wind gusts of 89 mph were reported at Lee’s Summit Municipal Airport. Trees were reportedly downed near West 35th Street and South Crysler Avenue in Independence. And large trees were blocking roadways in southeast Kansas City, east of Raytown.
In Platte County, a weather service employee reported that trees and limbs were down northeast of Camden Point. In Riverside, tree branches were blown down, and a fireworks tent collapsed. Social media posts also showed pictures of a semi-truck blown over on the highway.
There were reports of downed trees and wires near North 51st Street and Edith Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas.
Here’s a look at where overnight storm damage was reported to the National Weather Service.
This story was originally published July 3, 2024 at 9:06 AM.
