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Newsweek
5 days ago
- Climate
- Newsweek
Nearly 200,000 Warned to Avoid Travel as Emergency Declared
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Nearly 200,000 people on Monday remained under flood warnings in the aftermath of torrential rainfall that dropped more than a foot on Milwaukee and its environs, prompting officials to issue a state of emergency over the weekend and caution motorists against traveling. Why It Matters The heavy rains in Wisconsin come as meteorologists have warned that climate change has contributed to the prevalence of 100-year and 1,000-year floods across the U.S. in recent years. As the atmosphere warms, it gains the ability to hold more moisture, which in turn can fuel heavy rains when storms roll into the area. The floods in Wisconsin caused officials to cancel the last day of the Wisconsin State Fair. On Sunday, Milwaukee County declared a state of emergency and cautioned residents against driving or walking through flooded areas. What To Know As of Monday afternoon, numerous rivers were still flooding, according to warnings issued across the Badger State by National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists. Debris piles up at the base of a bridge along the Milwaukee River after torrential rains on August 10 in Milwaukee. Debris piles up at the base of a bridge along the Milwaukee River after torrential rains on August 10 in Milwaukee. Andy Manis/Getty These include the following rivers: Root River at Franklin, affecting Milwaukee County. Fox River Lower at Waukesha, affecting Waukesha County. Milwaukee River near Cedarburg, affecting Ozaukee County. Cedar Creek at Cedarburg, affecting Ozaukee County. Menomonee River at Menomonee Falls, affecting Waukesha County. None of the rivers had reached major flood levels, though the Fox River Lower at Waukesha was experiencing moderate flooding. The others saw minor issues. Flooding is the second deadliest weather hazard in the U.S. behind extreme heat. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles, prompting NWS officials to urge people against driving through flooded roadways. "Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles," NWS Milwaukee said in one flood warning. "Caution is urged when walking near riverbanks. Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas." Most of the rain has stopped, but NWS meteorologist JJ Wood told Newsweek there is a 40 percent to 50 percent chance for showers and storms overnight Monday, and a 30 percent to 40 percent chance of additional rain Tuesday afternoon. "Any storms that do move through the area, we are expecting them to move through at a fairly decent rate," he said. "We are not expecting big, flash flooding impacts like we've seen over the weekend." What People Are Saying Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, in a news release: "Flooding is still an active emergency situation across Milwaukee County, and we are expecting more rain today and into this evening. Our top priority is the life and safety of Milwaukee County residents. I strongly urge our residents to stay cautious, stay informed, and refrain from traveling. Check in on your neighbors and loved ones, especially older adults, and seek out emergency assistance if needed. I am thankful to our first responders, law enforcement partners, social services workers, and neighbors who are lending a helping hand during a challenging time. We will get through this together, Milwaukee." NWS Milwaukee, in a flood warning: "Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding." What's Next Some of the flood warnings are set to expire by early Wednesday afternoon, whereas others will remain in place until further notice, as it can take time for flooded river levels to recede. Wood said it will be dry for the next several days after Tuesday, which carries the chance of rain.
Boston Globe
6 days ago
- Climate
- Boston Globe
Fires, storms, and blazing temperatures expected for western US
Large wildfires in Colorado have also caused air quality to drop there, the US National Weather Service said. Alerts are out across western portions of the state, including Vail, the agency said. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Meanwhile, smoke from forest fires in Canada has once again crossed into the US causing air quality alerts to be posted in Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin, the National Weather Service said. There's also a dense smoke advisory in place across northeast parts of Montana. Across the border, air quality warnings are also in place for parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Environment and Climate Change Canada said. Advertisement A brush fire south of Ashcroft, British Columbia, on Wednesday, July 30. Uncredited/Associated Press Across Canada, 714 active fires are burning with 166 raging out of control, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. So far this year, 4,277 blazes have charred 7.3 million acres. In the US, there have been 42,854 fires reported on 3.5 million acres, the US National Interagency Fire Center said. While the number of US fires exceeds last year's 32,727 by this date, the acreage burned is less than the more than 5 million acres consumed a year ago. Advertisement US heat advisories and extreme heat warnings are posted across parts of the west, including California, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Washington and Idaho. Phoenix is forecast to reach 108F (42C) Sunday, a dip from the record temperatures that gripped the fifth most-populous US city last week. Phoenix set a new August high temperature of 118F on Thursday. In New York City and elsewhere in the Northeast, temperatures are set to rise. As many as 12 records may be tied or broken across the region in the coming week, the US Weather Prediction Center said. The Milwaukee River in Milwaukee after heavy rain in the area on Saturday, August 10. Andy Manis/Getty Flood watches have been posted across the Midwest, including Milwaukee, the weather service said. The Milwaukee River in Estabrook Park has risen more than 8 feet in the last day cresting at a new record of 11.19 feet, the weather service said. The US National Hurricane Center is watching two potential storms both in the central Atlantic far from land. The first is a disorganized patch of thunderstorms that's moving north into the Atlantic with a 20% chance of becoming a storm in the next week. The second is a broad area of low pressure that is moving off Africa with a 70% chance of becoming a tropical storm or hurricane in the coming week. The remnants of Tropical Storm Dexter, which has crossed the Atlantic Ocean toward Europe, will set the stage for warmer temperatures to filter in across the UK and Ireland, the UK Met Office said. Warmer temperatures are forecast to sweep into the UK during the coming week. The high in London is forecast to reach 33C (91F) by Tuesday, the agency said. Advertisement With assistance from Isis Almeida.
