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Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Milwaukee area pummeled by 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.) This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee pummeled by flash floods; State Fair, triathlon disrupted Solve the daily Crossword
Axios
2 days ago
- Climate
- Axios
Historic flash floods hit Milwaukee as Midwest faces heavy rains threat
Record flooding rains fell in Wisconsin over the weekend, triggering dozens of water rescues, shutting down the Wisconsin State Fair and prompting Milwaukee County officials to declare a state of emergency. Threat level: The extreme weather that began on Saturday night continued to threaten parts of of Wisc. on Sunday evening, with the National Weather Service expecting"repeated rounds of heavy rain" across portions of the Midwest, central Plains, and Southeast through Monday. The storm system was capable of producing flash flooding, "some of which may be significant," across the Midwest and central Plains, according to the NWS. The big picture: Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson told reporters there had been "major property damage" in the storm, along with widespread power outages and damage to vehicles. Milwaukee Fire Department chief Aaron Lipski said at the briefing crews had "pulled dozens of people out of cars and off of cars trapped in the middle of flood water," noting "we are still in the middle" of the storm. By the numbers: Johnson said the storm caused a foot of rain to fall "in a very short period of time" in some places. Milwaukee saw 5.74 inches within hours on Saturday night, marking a new daily record and the city's second-wettest day ever recorded. "Torrential rainfall exceeding 10 inches, with an additional two inches forecasted, has overwhelmed local drainage systems," said Milwaukee County executive David Crowley in his emergency declaration Sunday. There had been 65 water rescues by lunchtime Sunday local time, per Lipski. The Milwaukee River reached a record high crest of 11.19 feet, according to data at Milwaukee-Eastbrook Park. Between the lines: Climate change is increasing the frequency and magnitude of precipitation extremes, studies show. Scenes from Wisconsin's historic flooding
USA Today
2 days ago
- Climate
- 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.)
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Climate
- Los Angeles Times
Flooding cancels last day of Wisconsin State Fair as severe storms knock out power and close roads
MILWAUKEE — Flash flooding canceled the final day of the Wisconsin State Fair on Sunday as continued heavy rainfall in half a dozen Midwestern states forced motorists to abandon their vehicles, cut power to thousands of households and closed busy roadways. Organizers of the fair said they were scrapping the final day of the 11-day event after rains flooded the fairgrounds in West Allis, Wis., just outside Milwaukee. 'We are saddened we cannot deliver this final day of the Wisconsin State Fair, but know that this is the best decision with current conditions and the forecast ahead,' organizers said in a statement. The National Weather Service issued flood watches and warnings for parts of Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois and Wisconsin. After rainfall began Saturday, forecasters predicted 'repeated rounds of heavy rain' in some areas along with hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes into Monday. Among the worst hit was the Milwaukee area, where as many as 12 inches of rain had fallen in some areas by Sunday, according to the National Weather Service, which also noted river flooding in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties. Some motorists left their stranded cars on roads. Nearly 47,000 customers of We Energies lost power in southeast Wisconsin. In the suburban village of Wauwatosa, an overflowing and fast-moving Menomonee River submerged a popular playground. 'Really unfortunately, it's just a really bad overlap of circumstances in terms of how all this rain fell, but then fell over such a populated area,' said Andrew Quigley, a National Weather Service meteorologist. Firefighters responded to more than 600 calls including for gas leaks, flooded basements, electrical outages and water rescues, according to the Milwaukee Fire Department. Meanwhile, city crews worked overnight to clear surface water. 'We're still in the middle of it,' Fire Chief Aaron Lipski told reporters Sunday. 'We're still catching up right now.' USA Triathlon canceled its Sprint and Paratriathlon National Championships in Milwaukee, where thousands of athletes were expected to participate. Meanwhile, the Sunday afternoon Brewers-Mets game at American Family Field was expected to continue as scheduled even as the parking lot remained inaccessible to traffic. 'We will not be able to guarantee parking for all fans, even those who purchased parking in advance,' the Brewers said in a statement. City officials warned residents to avoid driving or walking in the standing waters. 'It remains dangerous,' the City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works said in a statement. On Saturday, strong winds led to the death of one person in eastern Nebraska after a tree fell on a woman's car. In the state capital of Lincoln, the storms damaged two housing units at the Nebraska State Penitentiary, displacing 387 prisoners, the state Department of Correctional Services said. The agency said all staff and incarcerated people were safe and accounted for.
CNN
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Alligator found in basement of Milwaukee house fire
Alligator found in basement after fire Milwaukee firefighters rescued an alligator in the basement while responding to a house fire. No one was inside and no firefighters were hurt, according to the Milwaukee Fire Department. 00:16 - Source: CNN Vertical Trending Now 15 videos Alligator found in basement after fire Milwaukee firefighters rescued an alligator in the basement while responding to a house fire. No one was inside and no firefighters were hurt, according to the Milwaukee Fire Department. 00:16 - Source: CNN 50 years of 'Jaws' and shark attacks As Steven Spielberg's summer blockbuster 'Jaws' turns 50, CNN's Harry Enten figures out how likely it is to be attacked by a shark and whether we should fear the waters. 01:57 - Source: CNN Erupting volcano puts Indonesians on high alert Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki, one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, erupted Tuesday, sending an ash cloud high into the air. The country's volcanology agency has raised the alert level to the highest. 00:59 - Source: CNN The NHL Stanley Cup's perfect imperfections The Stanley Cup is one of the most iconic trophies in all of sports, but one of the reasons the NHL's championship trophy is so lionized is its perfect imperfections. CNN's Coy Wire spoke to The Keeper of the Cup Howie Borrow for a tour of some of the trophy's character-building bloopers. 01:02 - Source: CNN Storm chaser captures 'unprecedented' view of monster hailstones falling from sky Storm chaser and research scientist Sean Waugh has documented softball sized (or greater) hailstones in freefall with an ultra-high-tech camera mounted on a retrofitted research vehicle. The goal – to study and better understand what makes gigantic hail form, and how to better detect it and ultimately improve severe weather warnings. Sean speaks with CNN Meteorologist Derek Van Dam while on the road, capturing imagery of this very impactful and expensive natural phenomenon. (edited) 01:47 - Source: CNN Flash flood destroys apartment building An apartment building in West Virginia partially collapsed as flash floods hit the area. The governor's office said at least five people are dead and four people remain missing following the floods. 00:31 - Source: CNN After talking to hundreds of dads, this podcaster shares his two biggest lessons Dr. John Delony speaks to millions of listeners on his popular podcast about mental health, family and relationships. As a therapist, he's used to offering advice to struggling fathers, but we asked him about the biggest lessons he's learned as a dad. 01:32 - Source: CNN Rare deep-sea squid filmed alive for first time Scientists have captured the first-ever footage of the elusive Gonatus antarcticus squid alive in its deep-sea habitat. CNN's Jeremy Roth describes the rare encounter. For more on this story, visit 01:12 - Source: CNN Trump draws boos and cheers at Kennedy Center President Donald Trump drew charged reactions of both admiration and ire at the Kennedy Center's opening night of "Les Misérables." 00:29 - Source: CNN The many adventures of the Stanley Cup Winner's of the NHL's Stanley Cup each get to take the cup for a day and do whatever they want with it. CNN's Coy Wire recounts some of the Cup's wildest days out. 00:43 - Source: CNN BTS members discharged from South Korean military One of the world's biggest boybands could soon be making a comeback with six out of seven members of K-Pop supergroup BTS now discharged from South Korea's mandatory military service. The band plans to reunite at some point later this year. 00:47 - Source: CNN Combs requests mistrial for a second time CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister explains that Sean "Diddy" Combs' defense team requested a mistrial for a second time, which was denied. Combs' team accused the prosecution of presenting false testimony from Bryana Bongolan, a friend of Cassie Ventura's, who testified that Combs dangled her over a balcony. 01:26 - Source: CNN Tennessee sheriff's office airlifts escaped zebra to safety DEK: A zebra, that escaped from its owner in Christiana, Tennessee was captured on Sunday and airlifted to safety by the local sheriff's office. The animal, named Ed, had been reported missing just a day after he was acquired by its owners in Rutherford County. They have since been reunited. 00:35 - Source: CNN Jamie Foxx breaks down during BET Awards acceptance speech Jamie Foxx was overcome with emotion while accepting the Ultimate Icon Award at the BET Awards. He reflected on his 2023 health scare. 00:45 - Source: CNN See what's coming to your iPhone and other Apple devices Apple announced major software updates at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference. Most of the new features won't reach users' devices for a few months when OS 26 releases this fall. 01:49 - Source: CNN
