UPDATE:
U.S. 77 was later reopened to traffic.
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Heavy rains and gusty winds blew through the Junction City - Manhattan area Saturday night. During the storm a main power line pole was knocked out when a tree fell just northwest of Junction City near U.S. Highway 77. That left the Milford Township and areas going north toward the town of Milford without electricity.
For a period of time U.S. 77 traffic northbound was reduced to one lane and later the highway was closed entirely. Emergency Management Director Garry Berges said authorities were diverting traffic from Old Milford Road at U.S.77 across the face of the Milford Lake Dam, back down K-57 to where it connected with Highway 77.
Evergy, DS&O Electric and KDOT were responding to the scene to make repairs but that was expected to take a few hours, weather permitting.
Winds gusting as high as 70 miles per hour blew through the region, and they were accompanied by pea to nickel size hail and heavy rain. There were numerous severe thunderstorm warnings plus one tornado warning for eastern Riley, northeastern Wabaunsee and southeastern Pottawatomie counties. Much of the region was under a tornado watch Saturday evening into early Sunday morning.
Riley County police dispatch did not report any problems for that county.