New flood warning issued as rains swamp roads across KC area: weather service

A new flood warning has been issued for the Kansas City area as rains continue to fall, according to the National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill.

Between 6 and 8 inches of rain have fallen across much of the Kansas City area since Friday. Some areas in south Kansas City have reported as much as a foot of rain.

Several cities have reported flooding Monday, including Kansas City, Overland Park, Olathe, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Shawnee, Blue Springs, Lenexa, Leawood, Raytown, Liberty, Gladstone, Grandview, Belton, Prairie Village, Raymore, Gardner, Lansing, Excelsior Springs and Merriam.

The new flood warning is in effect until 4 p.m. for most of the counties in the Kansas City area. It replaces a flash flood warning issued earlier, which expired at 10 a.m.

The Weather Service is warning drivers to “turn around, don’t drown” when they encounter flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles swept away by water.

Students aboard a school bus headed to Raytown South High School had to be rescued Monday morning after their bus stalled in flood water on Oldham Road near Gregory Boulevard.

Some minor to major river flooding is expected this week into the weekend as the result of the rain.

The weather is expected to dry out Wednesday afternoon, the Weather Service said.