Severe storms cause power outages
More than 550 people in Douglas County lost electricity during Sunday’s thunderstorms. The thunderstorms emerged in Douglas County about 4 p.m. Relentless heavy rain, quarter-size hail and winds as high as 25 mph buffeted the area for a five-hour stretch. The severity ebbed about 9 p.m., when the National Weather Service canceled the thunderstorm watch for Douglas County.
Douglas County had also been under an urban and small stream flood warning from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. There were no reports of flood damage, and the highest amount of rain recorded was .63 inches, according to the NWS.
At the storm’s peak, some people were stranded in their cars, according to Douglas County Emergency Management. One rural home south east of Lawrence was struck by lightning, but the discharge produced only smoke and no fire.