Record-Smashing Rainfall Triggers Major Flash Flooding In Milwaukee
According to the National Weather Service, 5.74 inches of rain fell on Saturday, smashing the daily rainfall record for Milwaukee, which was previously 1.64 inches of rain. By early Sunday 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.
As water rushed into nearby creeks and rivers, the water rose quickly. This resulted in submerged cars, and people scrambling to find higher ground.
The Wisconsin State Fair, which is being held in West Allis, a suburb of Milwaukee, was forced to close early Saturday evening as people were packed in the fairgrounds to see Lynyrd Skynyrd. The concert was also cancelled.
Wisconsin State Fair officials announced Sunday morning that they will not reopen for the last day of the state fair.
The USA Triathlon Sprint and Paratriathlon National Championships in Milwaukee have also been canceled on Sunday due to flooding.
At 6:15 a.m. local time, the Milwaukee River at Milwaukee-Estabrook Park set a new all-time record. The river gauge peaked at 11.19 feet, smashing the old record of 10.5 feet set back in 2010.
Flood Threat Moves South
While showers and storms will still linger in the Milwaukee area, much of the threat moves southward.
The threat of heavy rainfall, including flash flooding pushes into portions of the southern Plains through the end of the weekend.
From central Kansas to central Missouri has the greatest risk of flash flooding, however, a larger swath from eastern Colorado to Michigan could also face the threat of heavy rainfall. Most areas will pick up several inches of rain, however, if storms sit over the same area for longer lengths of time, much higher totals and flash flooding are possible.
Here's where the storms are now:
Jennifer Gray is a weather and climate writer for weather.com. She has been covering some of the world's biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.
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