Power Outage in Council Grove, KS

Tree damage and power lines down, possibly associated with a tornado.

Westar Energy reported numerous power outages across the county affecting over one thousand people. Outages were due to downed tree limbs on power lines and power lines failing due to around one half to three quarters of an inch of ice Sunday morning. County dispatch also reported tree limbs down county wide due to ice accumulation as of early Sunday morning.

Near Council Grove trees and power poles were reported down along 400 Road. Near Herington two to three inch tree limbs were broken and a child's playset was blown over.

Near Council Grove numerous power lines were blown down. Two large trees, 15 and 18 inches respectively, were uprooted, and a grain bin was caved in.

Near Council Grove numerous power lines were blown down. Two large trees, 15 and 18 inches respectively, were uprooted, and a grain bin was caved in.

Ice and snow reports were slow to trickle into the NWS-TOP, but came fast and furiously after 9am CST as a heavy band of precipitation began to affect the county. Snow, freezing rain, and sleet were all reported, and sites across the county reported ice accumulations beginning around 9am CST, with half of an inch of ice reported on trees and power lines at some locations before 10am CST. An inch of sleet accumulated four miles southeast of Council Grove, while storm total accumulations across the rest of the county were around half an inch of sleet, and one to two inches of snow.

This narrow tornado was rated EF0. It snapped a power pole and broke some tree limbs near the intersection of Q and 400 roads. In addition to some tree damage at this location...outbuildins were damaged. A three sided pole shed was destroyed...a weak barn was shifted on its foundation and a wind mill tower was toppled. The tornado formed from a supercell thunderstorm. The tornado was on the ground for 2.8 miles and averaged 20 yards wide.

Several power poles were downed and several transformers were damaged. Trees were downed throughout the town and one house lost a large picture window. A grain elevator lost a large storage bin which landed on adjacent railroad tracks.