Flood of June 15, 1981, in Great Bend and vicinity, central Kansas

Torrential precipitation, as much as 20 inches in 12 hours, resulted in unprecedented flooding on Dry Walnut Creek in southwestern Barton County, central Kansas. Runoff from the storm caused extensive flooding in the town of Great Bend on June 15, 1981. Estimates of total damages exceeded $42 million. Measurements of peak discharges made in the downstream part of the Dry Walnut Creek watershed were as much as 3 1/2 times the estimated magnitude of the 100-year flood and in some locations exceeded the maximum previously measured discharge for the area. (USGS)