Incident briefing · Flood
Flood Warning: Slate Creek at Wellington
Where the warning applies, what officials reported, what nearby gauges mean, and where to check for updates.
Official source updated Oct 15, 2026, 2:23 AM CDT
Official warning through 7:26 PM CDT Oct 15, 2026
Official information
Instructions and local resources
- Official warning through
- 7:26 PM CDT Oct 15, 2026
- Nearby gauge
- 20.25 ft 1.25 ft above flood stage
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas.
Additional information is available at www.weather.gov.
The next statement will be issued this afternoon at 230 PM CDT.
NWS Wichita KS · updated Oct 15, 2026, 2:23 AM CDT
In immediate danger? Call 911. Nature Says When is not an emergency service and does not determine whether an area is safe.
Nature Says When briefing
What matters right now
The National Weather Service issued a Flood Warning covering Cowley, KS and Sumner, KS.
The official warning area, instructions, and source links are collected here with nearby weather and water observations.
Based on NWS Wichita KS, updated Oct 15, 2026, 2:23 AM CDT.
Read the full official alert text
Exact text from the issuing authority.
...The Flood Warning is extended for the following rivers in Kansas... Slate Creek At Wellington affecting Cowley and Sumner Counties. * WHAT...Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Slate Creek at Wellington. * WHEN...Until this evening. * IMPACTS...At 20.0 feet, Flood waters cover several low lying spots along Seneca Road between 40th and 60th Street just southeast of Wellington. Woods Park within the city floods. Slate Creek comes to roadway's edge at mile marker 15 on the the Kansas Turnpike. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 1:00 AM CDT Thursday the stage was 20.3 feet. - Bankfull stage is 19.0 feet. - Recent Activity...The maximum river stage in the 24 hours ending at 1:00 AM CDT Thursday was 20.3 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to fall below flood stage this morning and continue falling to 4.6 feet early Tuesday morning. - Flood stage is 19.0 feet. - Flood History...This crest compares to a previous crest of 20.4 feet on 05/13/2017. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
NWS Wichita KS · updated Oct 15, 2026, 2:23 AM CDT
Official forecast · local time
Weather window
The latest hourly forecast called for showers or thunderstorms during 5 of the next 11 periods.
The strongest forecast gust in those hours is 33 mph.
See the hourly forecast
- Patchy Fog64°F · Wind 7 mph · Gusts 12 mph
- Patchy Fog64°F · Wind 8 mph · Gusts 14 mph
- Showers And Thunderstorms Likely65°F · Wind 8 mph · Gusts 15 mph
- Chance Showers And Thunderstorms66°F · Wind 10 mph · Gusts 18 mph
- Chance Showers And Thunderstorms65°F · Wind 13 mph · Gusts 21 mph
- Chance Rain Showers64°F · Wind 15 mph · Gusts 25 mph
- Slight Chance Rain Showers66°F · Wind 17 mph · Gusts 28 mph
- Mostly Cloudy63°F · Wind 20 mph · Gusts 31 mph
- Mostly Cloudy62°F · Wind 21 mph · Gusts 33 mph
- Mostly Cloudy62°F · Wind 22 mph · Gusts 33 mph
- Mostly Cloudy59°F · Wind 23 mph · Gusts 33 mph
Official gauge observation
Nearby river gauge
Slate Creek (KS) at Wellington was at 20.25 feet at Oct 15, 2026, 7:00 AM CDT.
That is 1.25 feet above the gauge's 19-foot flood-stage threshold.
Flood stage is the locally defined level where impacts begin at this gauge; it is not the maximum the river can reach.
NOAA river level
Recent observations and official forecast
Open the live gauge ↗ (opens in a new tab)
See gauge forecast and source details
The warning text names this river, but the gauge still represents one point on it about 5.2 miles from the warning center.
The stored official forecast peaks near 19.4 feet at Oct 15, 2026, 7:00 AM CDT.
A provisional USGS observation reported the same stage.
Open USGS gauge 07145700 (provisional) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Where this is happening
Warning area and nearby places
The shaded shape comes from the official source. It shows the warning or incident area, not which individual roads or properties are affected.
Loading the incident map…
Places named or nearest to the official area
- Cowley, KS
- Sumner, KS
Map source details
Stored source center: 37.310, -97.460. A point or perimeter provides geographic context and is not a safety boundary.
Latest update
The river-gauge observation or forecast changed.
Provenance and handoffs
Sources and further information
Open the authority’s page before making an emergency decision.
How this briefing is assembled
Source facts are stored with source and retrieval times. The page renders stored records only. Optional generated context is omitted whenever validation fails and never controls emergency instructions, containment, road status, health guidance, or publication.