Monday nights severe thunderstorms left residents in Geary and Riley Counties without power.

As of 11:44 p.m. Westar Energy reported approximately 1,970 customers without power in Geary County, and 3,714 customers in Riley County.

Garry Berges, Geary County Emergency Management Director, reported that there were reports of some power lines down and blown transformers in Junction City.

“There was a power line problem at Elm and Washington. We saw some tree limbs down on 5th Street and also down on 8th Street,” Berges reported.

Jerome Thomas, Grandview Plaza Fire Chief reported that half of Grandview Plaza was without power.

“With that wind that came through tonight we had tree limbs come down on two primaries, one on the west side of town and one on the east side of town, so it took out the bulk of the city,” Thomas said.

As of 11:38 p.m. Monday, Flint Hills Rural Electric was in route to try and restore the power. The area of Grandview Plaza without power includes East Grandview Drive to Spear Street and Castle Street, along with the west side of town from West Grandview Drive to Witt Street.

Thomas also reported down tree limbs blocking driveways within the city, but there were zero roads closed.

Riley County is reporting all lanes of US 24 from the US77 Junction – K133 junction are closed to all traffic NW of Manhattan due to downed lines.

Power lines are currently down on US 24 between Riley and Manhattan on the 7700 block Tuttle Creek Blvd.

Strong winds were reported with this storm. Fort Riley reported wind gusts of 58 m.p.h. and Berges said that he believes that the wind was stronger within Grandview Plaza and Junction City.