A relentless barrage of storms has unleashed catastrophic flooding across the South and Midwest, leaving at least 16 dead and prompting emergency declarations as rivers surge and entire communities brace for further devastation.
A new wave of torrential rain and flash flooding struck the South and Midwest on Saturday, compounding the devastation in regions already saturated by days of severe storms and deadly tornadoes. Meteorologists warned that river levels across several states are expected to continue rising in the days ahead.
Relentless rainfall has battered the central United States, rapidly inflating waterways and prompting a series of flash flood emergencies from Texas to Ohio. The National Weather Service (NWS) reported that dozens of locations across multiple states are projected to reach what it classifies as “major flood stage,” potentially resulting in widespread damage to homes, roads, bridges, and other vital infrastructure.
Since the storms began, at least 16 weather-related fatalities have been confirmed, including 10 in Tennessee. In Missouri, a 57-year-old man lost his life Friday evening after exiting a vehicle that had been swept off a roadway in West Plains. In Kentucky, two people died due to flooding — a 9-year-old boy who was swept away on his way to school and a 74-year-old found deceased inside a submerged vehicle in Nelson County. In Arkansas, police confirmed that a 5-year-old child died Saturday at a home in Little Rock in a weather-related incident, though further details have not been released.
Tornadoes earlier in the week devastated entire neighborhoods and accounted for at least seven of the deaths.
The extreme flooding is also disrupting interstate commerce, particularly in a corridor encompassing major cargo hubs in Louisville, Kentucky, and Memphis, Tennessee. According to Jonathan Porter, Chief Meteorologist at AccuWeather, these disruptions may lead to delays in shipping and broader supply chain impacts.
The crisis comes at a challenging time for the National Weather Service, where nearly half of its forecast offices are operating with a 20% vacancy rate—double the level seen just a decade ago—largely due to staffing cuts made during the Trump administration.
In Louisville, Mayor Craig Greenberg reported that the Ohio River surged five feet (approximately 1.5 meters) within 24 hours and is expected to continue rising in the coming days.
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