A weather system that blasted other parts of the Midwest with tornadoes brought plenty of rain to Iola Monday afternoon.
According to Iola records, about 2.8 inches of rain fell in a little over an hour’s span, enough to overwhelm the city’s water drainage systems and fill streets, lawns and other low-lying areas with water.
Travel became treacherous for a short while in and around Iola.
Iola crews responded to a disabled vehicle on State Street, where a woman and young girl were assisted by firefighters as they trudged their way to dry ground.
Almost simultaneously, Allen County crews assisted a motorist who crashed just south of Iola on U.S. 169.
The waters receded nearly as quickly as they rose, with most roads reopened to traffic within an hour or two after the rain stopped falling.
Forecasts call for dry weather, but not for long, with chances of rain returning Friday and continuing through Memorial Day Weekend.
