Flooding continues along rivers; today’s weather includes sunny skies, high of 48

Rivers currently in flood stage. (National Weather Service – USGS graphic)
Rivers forecast to flood through next week. (National Weather Service – USGS graphic)

Flooding continues in the Midwest today along the Missouri River. Now, also the Kansas River in Kansas City, Kansas, has risen to a point just under minor flooding.

The Missouri River is expected to reach moderate to major flood crests soon in towns along the river, according to the National Weather Service. Additional water is being released into the Missouri River upstream from the reservoir at Gavins Point, South Dakota.

The weather service has issued a flood warning for the Missouri River at Kansas City from Monday afternoon, March 18, through Saturday, March 23. Minor flooding is forecast. Flood stage is 32 feet.

Hydrology chart for Missouri River at Kansas City, at 8:30 a.m. Friday, March 15. (National Weather Service – USGS graphic)

According to current hydrology charts, the Missouri River at Kansas City was at 27.97 feet at 8:30 a.m. March 15. Flood stage is 32 feet. The Missouri River at Kansas City is currently projected to go into the action stage on Sunday morning, and into the minor flood stage on Monday, going back to action stage on Friday, March 22, according to hydrology charts.

Kansas River at 23rd Street in Kansas City, Kansas, is currently in the action stage, from 7:45 am. March 15. (National Weather Service – USGS graphic)

The Kansas River at 23rd Street in Kansas City, Kansas, has now gone into the action stage, at 29.52 feet at 7:45 a.m. Friday, March 15, according to hydrology charts. Flood stage is 33 feet. The Kaw River is projected to remain in action stage through Tuesday, March 19.

Missouri River at Parkville, Missouri, (across the river from Kansas City, Kansas), is currently at 27.19 feet on March 15, in minor flood stage. (National Weather Service – USGS graphic)

The Missouri River at Parkville, Missouri, is currently at 27.19 feet on Friday, March 15, and flood stage there is 25 feet. The river is in the minor flood stage at Parkville, and is projected to go into moderate flood stage on Saturday, remaining in moderate flood stage until Sunday, March 24.

At 32.5 feet, the Wolcott Levee, sections 1 and 3, in northwestern Wyandotte County will be overtopped, according to the weather service. At 32 feet, the Wolcott Levee, section 2, in northwestern Wyandotte County will be overtopped.

Turkey Creek at Southwest Boulevard is not projected to flood at this time.

Cities along the Missouri River are currently experiencing flooding. (National Weather Service graphic)
More cities along the Missouri River are either experiencing flooding, or could experience flooding in the future. (National Weather Service graphic)
National Weather Service graphic

Motorists who encounter flooded roadways should turn around, and go back, the weather service stated.

The Wyandotte County weather forecast does not show another chance of rain until Tuesday night.

Today, it will be sunny with a high near 48 and a northwest wind of 9 to 16 mph, gusting as high as 25 mph, the weather service said.

Tonight, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 27 and a northwest wind of 5 to 9 mph becoming calm in the evening, according to the weather service.

Saturday, it will be sunny with a high near 54 and a light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon, the weather service said.

Saturday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 30 and a north northwest wind of 6 mph, according to the weather service.

Sunday, it will be sunny with a high near 53 and a north northwest wind of 5 to 7 mph, the weather service said.

Sunday night, it will be mostly clear with a low of 30, according t the weather service.

Monday, it will be sunny, with a high near 50, the weather service said.

Monday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 33, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 55, the weather service said.

Tuesday night, there is a 30 percent chance of rain, with a low of 39, according to the weather service.

Wednesday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 58, the weather service said.

Wednesday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 39, according to the weather service.

Thursday, it will be sunny with a high near 63, the weather service said.

Sporting KC advances to Champions League semifinals

Midfielder Roger Espinoza knocked in a goal off a Johnny Russell cross to make the score 2-0 on Thursday night in a Champions League quarterfinal match at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

Sporting Kansas City won the second leg of its Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal match against Panamanian squad Club Atletico Independiente 3-0.

The win gave Sporting a 4-2 aggregate score over CAI and advances Sporting on to the semifinal round in early April.

Sporting was the more aggressive team from the start of the game. In need of at least one goal to have a chance at advancement, Kansas City pressed its attack. The attacking mentality showed up in 13 corner kicks from Johnny Russell, and 26 total shots for the game.

Runs down the right side from Johnny Russell and up the center from Krisztian Nemeth created scoring chances for the home team, but Independiente managed to parry all of Sporting’s attacks through the first 73 minutes. Goalkeeper Jose Guerra made several athletic saves to keep the game scoreless.

Nemeth opened the scoring in the 74th minute by knocking in a ball from six yards that was headed forward to him by defender Botond Barath.

Sporting added two more goals in quick succession, the first in the 81st minute by Roger Espinoza running up the middle and firing in a cross from Johnny Russell.

The final goal came in the 86th minute, again from Nemeth, who got a cross from the left by Gerso and pushed it inside the right goalpost.

The semifinal is the best showing by Sporting KC in its four Champions League appearances. Sporting is the only MLS team remaining in this year’s competition. Kansas City’s opponent in the semifinal will be Club Futbol de Monterrey, a member of Mexico’s Liga MX. The dates for the games have not been announced.

Kansas City will play away against the Colorado Rapids in MLS competition on Sunday, March 17.

Roger Espinoza celebrated after his goal in the 81st minute. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

 

Fans bundled up against the chilling winds and drizzling rain. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

 

Johnny Russell brought the ball into the center after a run down the right side. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

 

Johnny Russell congratulated Krisztian Nemeth after his goal. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

 

Fans in the south stands celebrated after Krisztian Nemeth’s 73rd minute goal. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

 

Krisztian Nemeth took a shot from the right side. He scored two goals in the game. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

 

Gerso Fernandes hurdled CAI goalkeeper Jose Guerra to avoid a collision. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

 

Graham Zusi removed his stocking cap to give it to a fan in the stands. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

 

Haley, Reardon to speak March 16 at Democratic breakfast

State Sen. David Haley, D-4th Dist., listened during a recent legislative forum. (File photo)
Former State Rep. Bill Reardon was the moderator at a recent legislative forum. (File photo)

The guest speakers Saturday at the Wyandotte County Third Saturday Democratic Breakfast will be State Sen. David Haley, D-4th Dist., and former State Rep. Bill Reardon of Kansas City, Kansas.

The Wyandotte County Third Saturday Democratic Breakfast will meet at 8:15 a.m. Saturday, March 16, for a buffet at Las Islas Marias, 7516 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The program will begin at 9 a.m.

It is the 15th anniversary of the Democratic breakfast, and cake will be served. Both Haley and Reardon attended the first meeting of the breakfast.

Sen. Haley, D-4th Dist., was elected in 1994 to the Kansas House, then elected to the Kansas Senate in 2000. He was the Democratic Party’s nominee for secretary of state in 2002 and 2006. A graduate of Morehouse College and Howard University School of Law, there have been years when Haley was the only lawyer serving as a senator. He is a public affairs counselor.

Sen. Haley currently is the ranking minority member of the Ethics, Elections and Local Government Committee. He also serves on the Judiciary Committee, the Joint Committee on State-Tribal Relations, the Joint Committee on Special Claims against the State and the Interstate Cooperation Committee.

Former Rep. Reardon, D-37th Dist., represented Wyandotte County in the Kansas House for 30 years, also taught at Bishop Miege High School for 41 years and was the girls basketball assistant coach there for 28 years. He also has served as the lobbyist for the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools.

Reardon received a bachelor’s degree from Rockhurst College and a master’s degree from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. When he retired from the Legislature in 2004, he was the second legislator in the state’s history to have served 15 consecutive House terms.

The breakfast is open to all Democrats. The cost of the buffet is $10, or $6 for students and those on limited incomes. Those attending do not have to purchase a breakfast. Those who want to purchase a breakfast should make reservations to scottmackey08@yahoo.com by Friday, March 15.