Thunderstorm knocks out power for thousands of Lawrence residents
A severe thunderstorm moved through Douglas County Saturday evening, leaving thousands of residents without power.
Gina Penzig, Westar Energy media relations manager, said about 3,500 customers lost power in Lawrence because of wind damage, with North Lawrence sustaining the most damage. Penzig estimated power would be restored to all customers by 7 a.m. Sunday.
Jennifer Prieto, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Topeka, said the destructive winds were not caused by a microburst. Such an event would have caused a loss in wind speed as the storm continued east, but winds stayed at 55 mph in Bonner Springs, she said.
Prieto said the storm would start to dissipate as a cold front moved into Lawrence around midnight Sunday.
Several Lawrence residents posted about the storm damage on social media Saturday.
You know what's better than 1 tree coming through your roof? 2 trees. pic.twitter.com/dth2Vcdgxr
— Matthew Herbert (@HerbertMatthewJ) October 14, 2017
From Jeff Triplett on Lincoln St in N Lawrence. @NWSTopeka pic.twitter.com/MxNRvyAjQM
— Darin Brunin (@Tornaduhs) October 14, 2017
Goodbye my sweet sweet Ram.