Wisconsin recovers from record rain but several states brace for more flooding
The slow-moving system is forecast to dump heavy rain across Arkansas and Oklahoma, with expected rainfall rates up of 2 to 3 inches per hour, according to the Weather Prediction Center. "Flash flooding is likely," forecasters said.
Just before 4 a.m. local time, the weather service office in Norman, Oklahoma, issued a flash flood emergency warning residents that flooding was either ongoing or expected to begin shortly. The warning said 2 and 5 inches of rain had fallen and that meteorologists were expecting up to 3 more inches of rain.
Across both states, flood and thunderstorm advisories were in effect.
Over the weekend, the storm brought record rainfall amounts to Wisconsin. The Milwalkee area saw some of the worst conditions with over a foot of rain falling in the metro area, triggering a county-wide emergency declaration as streets turned to rivers and trapped people in their cars.
No injuries or deaths were reported in Wisconsin, though homes and businesses were damaged.
On Saturday, a woman was killed in eastern Nebraska when winds caused a tree to fall on her car, officials said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
9 hours ago
- USA Today
Wisconsin recovers from record rain but several states brace for more flooding
A large storm system that pummeled Wisconsin over the weekend, forcing people to abandon their cars and shutting down the State Fair, will bring flooding rains to several states across the central U.S., meteorologists said on Aug. 11. The slow-moving system is forecast to dump heavy rain across Arkansas and Oklahoma, with expected rainfall rates up of 2 to 3 inches per hour, according to the Weather Prediction Center. "Flash flooding is likely," forecasters said. Just before 4 a.m. local time, the weather service office in Norman, Oklahoma, issued a flash flood emergency warning residents that flooding was either ongoing or expected to begin shortly. The warning said 2 and 5 inches of rain had fallen and that meteorologists were expecting up to 3 more inches of rain. Across both states, flood and thunderstorm advisories were in effect. Over the weekend, the storm brought record rainfall amounts to Wisconsin. The Milwalkee area saw some of the worst conditions with over a foot of rain falling in the metro area, triggering a county-wide emergency declaration as streets turned to rivers and trapped people in their cars. No injuries or deaths were reported in Wisconsin, though homes and businesses were damaged. On Saturday, a woman was killed in eastern Nebraska when winds caused a tree to fall on her car, officials said.
USA Today
a day ago
- USA Today
Record rainfall leads to widespread flash flooding and chaos in Milwaukee: 'All is lost'
Record rainfall fell across much of the metro Milwaukee area late Aug. 9 and early Aug. 10, leading to major flash flooding across the region. MILWAUKEE — Record rainfall fell across much of the metro Milwaukee area late Aug. 9 and early Aug. 10, leading to major flash flooding across the region, cancelling concerts, submerging cars, and shutting down the Wisconsin State Fair. The heavy rain was part of a larger system that affected much of the central United States. The National Weather Service said repeated additional rounds of heavy rain are likely to produce instances of flash flooding from the central Plains to the Midwest on Aug. 10. In hard-hit Milwaukee, no flood-related deaths were reported within the city, but residents are facing major property damage, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said around noon on Aug. 10. Officials pleaded with residents to stay out of their cars and off the roads. Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski said 65 water rescues were completed overnight. Dozens of people were rescued from in or on top of their cars, he said. 'We're all experiencing the same thing: Basement flooding' The full extent of the flood damage will be sorted out in the days to come as homeowners and apartment dwellers deal with flooded basements. Jacqueline Zeledon lives on the city's northwest side near Glendale, Wisconsin. She said three feet of floodwater poured into her basement, all after 2 a.m., and she said four neighbors reported flooding up to their thighs. "Everyone is waking up and we're all experiencing the same thing: Basement flooding," she said. "All is lost. Our furnace, water heater, deep freezer with food, CD collection, clothes, appliances; all that is downstairs is damaged." As Zeledon was talking about the damage, she looked out her street to watch debris float away. Manhole covers had popped off, and a lost dog didn't know which way to walk. Events cancelled The Wisconsin State Fair, held in West Allis, a suburb of Milwaukee, was shut down early in the evening of Aug. 9, and will not reopen for its scheduled final day on Aug. 10. Meanwhile, the USA Triathlon Sprint and Paratriathlon National Championships in Milwaukee were canceled due to flooding, reported. The Major League Baseball game between the New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers is being played as scheduled on Aug. 10, a day after rain pushed through the roof at American Family Field during the Brewers' victory over the Mets on Aug. 9. Even as rains came down on Aug. 9, people at the State Fair made the most of the situation. The Wisconsin State FFA Honors Band and Choir, featuring members ages 13 to 21, got a much bigger audience than anticipated at the Youth Exhibit Hall as hundreds sought shelter from the storm. Monte Dunnum, the band's director, said the bolstered crowd got into the performance. "I think we were able to raise their spirits in what became a torrential downpour for more than an hour and eventually led to the fair closing early,' Dunnum said. 'FFA band members had a great time and I think the audience had at least a really nice diversion during a weather delay. It was a more entertaining performance than we had even expected." Summer weather: It's 'dangerously hot' as extreme temps scorch these parts of the United States How much rain fell? According to the National Weather Service, 5.74 inches of rain fell on Aug. 9, smashing the daily rainfall record for Milwaukee, which was previously 1.64 inches of rain, said in an online report. "By early Aug. 10 morning, Milwaukee picked up additional rainfall, bringing the storm total to nearly 7 inches of rain. Radar estimates around Milwaukee show rainfall totals as high as 10-11 inches," said meteorologist Jennifer Gray. River levels falling after record-breaking highs overnight River levels in the Milwaukee area continue to fall after extreme storms sent them to record-breaking heights overnight. The Milwaukee River has fallen to 8.7 feet in downtown Milwaukee, after cresting at a record high of 11.19 feet early in the morning, said Andrew Quigley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Meteorologists continue to monitor river levels as rain showers move through the area this afternoon. 'Don't drive through floodwaters' The Milwaukee fire department is still catching up on Aug. 10 afternoon, a frustrated Lipski said as he gestured to cars driving through a flooded intersection on the city's northwest side where 14 inches of rain fell overnight. "We've been telling people over and over and over again: Don't drive through the water," Lipski told reporters. "This is how we have hundreds of vehicles around the city blocking intersections, making progress absolutely impossible. We need everybody to help us out here. We can't do everything. We can't be everywhere at once. Don't drive through the floodwaters."
USA Today
a day ago
- USA Today
Milwaukee area pummeled\nby record-breaking flash floods that disrupt busy weekend
Cars submerged under water. Mangled power lines. Sewage overflows. Precious mementos lost forever. The Milwaukee area was pounded by a powerful series of storms in the overnight hours that created damaging flash floods, and residents were still assessing the aftermath on Aug. 10. The National Weather Service reported that Waukesha and Milwaukee areas received 7 to 10 inches or more of rain as of 4 a.m. More downpours are expected in the coming days. The NWS called it "life threatening flash flooding." As of 8:30 Sunday morning, St. Francis reported the highest rain total in Milwaukee County at 10.5 inches. That amount of rain in a short amount of time overwhelmed the area. Between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m., the Milwaukee Fire Department responded to more than 600 calls for fires, water rescues and other weather-related emergencies. The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District reported that 14.35 inches of water rushed into the system at 8135 W. Florist Ave., and the Kinnickinnic and Milwaukee rivers both reached record levels, with the Kinnickinnic measured at 17.19 feet. City streets were engulfed by water that prompted car owners to abandon vehicles. The weather disrupted a busy summer weekend. Rain pushed through the roof at American Family Field during the Milwaukee Brewers' victory over the New York Mets on Aug. 9 and impassable city streets closed access to some of the stadium's parking lots for the game on Aug. 10. USA Triathlon was forced to cancel its paratriathlon and sprints national championship, a popular event that draws thousands of competitors along Lake Michigan, due to unsafe water conditions and course damage. The storms soaked Wisconsin State Fair revelers on Aug. 9, prompting the cancellation of a concert by rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd and forcing fair-goers to wade through flooding exits. The State Fair was forced to cancel its final day on Aug. 10. Even as rains came down on Aug. 9, people at State Fair made the most of the situation. The Wisconsin State FFA Honors Band and Choir, featuring members ages 13 to 21, got a much bigger audience than anticipated at the Youth Exhibit Hall as hundreds sought shelter from the storm. Monte Dunnum, the band's director, said the bolstered crowd got into the performance. 'I think we were able to raise their spirits in what became a torrential downpour for more than an hour and eventually led to the fair closing early,' Dunnum said. 'FFA band members had a great time and I think the audience had at least a really nice diversion during a weather delay. It was a more entertaining performance than we had even expected.' Mayor and fire chief talk about city's response Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Fire Department Chief Aaron Lipski held a news conference at 105th and Silver Spring around noon on Aug. 10. Johnson said that there were no flood-related deaths reported within the city. Lipski said his department made 65 water rescues. The dive team was split in half to be able to complete more runs, Lipski said. Dozens of people were rescued from in or on top of their cars. 'We've been telling people over and over and over again: Don't drive through the water,' a frustrated Lipski told reporters. 'This is how we have hundreds of vehicles around the city blocking intersections, making progress absolutely impossible. "We need everybody to help us out here. We can't do everything. We can't be everywhere at once. Don't drive through the floodwaters.' Flooded basements cause loss of property The full extent of the flood damage will be sorted out in the days to come as home owners and apartment dwellers deal with flooded basements. Jacqueline Zeledon lives on the city's northwest side near Glendale. She said three feet of floodwater poured into her basement, all after 2 a.m., and she said four neighbors reported flooding up to their thighs. "Everyone is waking up and we're all experiencing the same thing: Basement flooding," she said. "All is lost. Our furnace, water heater, deep freezer with food, CD collection, clothes, appliances; all that is downstairs is damaged." As Zeledon was talking about the damage, she looked out to her street to watch debris float away. Manhole covers had popped off on Silver Spring Drive, and a lost dog didn't know which way to walk. (Hope Karnopp, Caitlin Looby, Taima Kern and Kelly Meyerhofer contributed to this report.)
