This time rain fell; more than 6 inches in some areas

When rain has been nearly nonexistent for weeks, a deluge of four to six inches will leave its mark.
Thunderstorm warnings were issued for Imperial and Chase County Aug. 19, but it was like the “boy who called wolf” scenario—most wondered if it would bypass the area once again.    
Two separate systems were approaching Chase County, but like other days with rain potential, it looked like they would again go around this area, leaving continued dryness.
But, this time the rain came.
It was nothing like the 10 to 11 inches east of Holyoke, Colorado, but it was noticed.
According to the National Weather Service in North Platte, moderate to heavy rainfall occurred across this area last Thursday and into Friday morning.
The 4.83 inches, two miles southwest of Lamar, was the most rain reported to NWS.
However, NERain reporters showed more in some Chase County locations.
The area 3.4 miles south of Lamar received 6.4 inches. At 2.6 miles southwest of Champion, five inches fell, with 4.5 inches recorded eight miles west of Champion. At the Chase/Perkins county line, three inches fell.
Mike Francis, who tracks the weather in Imperial for the NWS, reported 4.5 inches in town last week.
It was quite the change, Francis said, after his records show just .32 inch of moisture in Imperial over the past two months.
NWS also had reports of hail measuring up to two inches four miles north of Lamar, while the highest wind gusts recorded reached 71 mph, a mile southeast of Imperial.
Flood waters north of Lamar ran east and south through corn and bean fields from the state line across Avenues 312 to 324. While some roads flooded, others did not.
Just before Avenue 325, waters came across Road 740. Between surges Friday and Saturday, waters dug across the road to a depth of four feet.
The county approved purchasing a semi load of culverts Tuesday. County Road Foreman Mark Balderston said county officials were to decide Wednesday where they want to put in culverts in the Sand Draw.
Balderston said Road 740, which also washed out two years ago, will get two bigger culverts when they arrive. Several other roads affected by the flood waters will also have culverts installed, he said.
County workers quickly restored bus routes and by the end of their work day Tuesday, all but the barricades across Road 740 were removed.
Balderston credited county road workers for getting everything opened back up, especially the Lamar crew of Emil Tropf, Mark Berry and Dan Mullanix.
“They worked all weekend,” Balderston said, hauling truck loads of dirt and fixing the roads.
“They did a fantastic job,” he added.
Other road damage included Avenues 331 and 333, south of Imperial, and in spots north of Wauneta. Washouts also occurred north of Old Highway 6.
West of Imperial, flood waters made it to Arterburn Lake and crossed Avenue 318 A, but didn’t make it to 321. Waters did not reach Nolan Dam, five to six miles west of Champion.
Preparations were made in case the flood waters did reach Champion Lake. Flood gates were opened Friday to allow the water to flow through had that been needed.
County Emergency Manager Duane Dreiling said all county roads are open, with a couple possible exceptions in the western part of the county.
Tornado warning
In addition to the rain, a tornado warning near Lamar was issued Thursday afternoon.
That sent the driver and passengers on one Chase County Schools bus to seek shelter.
Bus driver Lynn Prosser was in communication with school officials, said Activities Director Troy Hauxwell, when the tornado warning was issued as she returned students home near Lamar.
With two students left on the bus, she pulled into the Pete and Paulette Dillan yard, south of Lamar. She and the students sought cover inside the home until the storm passed, Hauxwell said.
“She called in and got to the nearest farm place,” he said.
About 4:30 p.m., an eyewitness sighting of rotating clouds was reported about 10 miles east and 4.5 miles south of Holyoke, Colorado.
A garage on the Randy and Karin Kramer farm was destroyed after their son reported rotating clouds over their property, according to The Holyoke Enterprise.