Damaging Wind Blows Through Area

Severe thunderstorms that rumbled across the area produced damaging wind and heavy rain late Wednesday into early Thursday.

Rush County authorities say wind that blew through LaCrosse was strong enough to knock over train cars sitting at a lumberyard.

The sheriff’s department says the strong wind Wednesday night pushed over six empty train cars near Main Street in LaCrosse. They were part of an empty train that stretched almost a mile into town.

No injuries were reported and no highways or roads were closed.

The wind was blowing up to 80 mph when the derailment happened.

In other locations around the area, 70 mph wind was reported in Barton County, and 67 mph wind was reported at the airport in Ellsworth.

A 65 mph wind gust was reported 5 miles southwest of Salina. A peak wind gust of 61 mph was clocked at the Salina Regional Airport. Other than tree limbs down, there were no reports of major damage.

Heavy rain also fell around the area, prompting flood warnings for multiple counties including Saline, McPherson, Rice, Ellsworth, Lincoln, Russell, and Barton Counties.

The next couple of days look quiet, but then another round of severe weather is possible over the weekend. large hail, damaging wind around 70 mph, and very heavy rain are all possible late Saturday into early Sunday.

Associated Press information was used in part of this story.