On Tuesday, a long series of storms with damaging winds known as derechos hit the Midwest, and other powerful storms hit the central Appalachians. It was the latest in days of severe weather and threats of flash flooding that left at least one person dead and more than 1 million homes and businesses without power.
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The cluster of storms led to severe thunderstorm, flash flood and tornado warnings for much of Tuesday in those areas, including Chicago. At least two tornadoes have been observed in Illinois and Iowa, with more tornadoes likely to be confirmed later this week once survey teams are able to investigate.
Over the next few days, multiple storms will develop and track these same areas, causing extreme rainfall increases that could dump more than a month’s worth of rain in a matter of hours.
During the storm, some National Weather Service offices, including one in Jackson, Kentucky, experienced communications problems that prevented them from distributing weather alerts in a timely manner. CNN is seeking more information.
Here’s the latest information:
Destructive winds: The derecho brought wind gusts exceeding 125 mph across a 300-mile stretch of the Midwest, from northeastern Iowa to northern Indiana. Parts of Chicago experienced hurricane-force wind gusts of over 90 mph, and Columbus, Ohio experienced wind gusts of over 130 mph as the storm battered those areas. Additional storm clusters could develop into this evening, knocking down trees and knocking out power from Indiana and Ohio to eastern Kentucky and the central Appalachians.
INDIANA DEATH: A 4-year-old child was killed Tuesday in southeastern Indiana when a tree fell on a home in Geneva Township, according to Jennings County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Cody Rowe. Roe told CNN that the child was “trapped or injured” when a 911 call was received around 3:30 p.m., but that when paramedics arrived, they found the child dead inside the home.
Widespread power outages: More than 1 million homes and businesses in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia were without power Tuesday night, according to PowerOutage.us. More than 900,000 power outages were reported in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio alone.
FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY: A water rescue was reported Tuesday morning in Perry County, Ohio, the state’s emergency management director told CNN. Videos on social media showed rescue workers navigating a raft through the powerful water flowing through the streets of Crooksville, a village in the county. A rare flash flood emergency (the highest level of flash flood warning) was issued for the area early Tuesday morning after nearly a month’s worth of rain fell in three hours. Heavy fresh rain fell later in the morning, threatening to worsen the flooding.
Pennsylvania rescue: Homes, vehicles, roads and railroads were damaged by flooding around Confluence, Pennsylvania, local officials said. Fire Chief Tyler Byrd told CNN that 10 people were rescued from a flooded home near Confluence on Tuesday morning. Another person was also rescued from the roof of the car. Three to five inches of rain fell in the area in a few hours early Tuesday morning.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency in Perry and Muskingum counties Tuesday afternoon and activated National Guard high water rescue units to those areas. He said he expects other counties to be added to the state of emergency in the coming days as the storm continues.
DeWine said at a news conference Tuesday that one person died after first responders were unable to reach him during an emergency in Roseville, which straddles both counties. Roseville is “completely surrounded by water,” the governor added, emphasizing that the multi-day storm threat applies to all of Ohio.
“We are in a very dangerous weather situation involving all of Ohio. This is unusual, but the danger could exist anywhere in the state,” DeWine warned.
Floodwaters rose 6 to 10 feet in low-lying areas of Perry County, forcing about 200 people to evacuate or unable to reach their homes as of Tuesday morning, Ohio Emergency Management Agency Executive Director Sima Merrick told CNN. Floodwaters also overcame two bridges there.
Merrick said two rapid water rescue teams from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources were dispatched Tuesday morning to assist with the rescue, joining response teams from neighboring counties. Multiple roads in Perry County were closed due to rising water, said Chas Cosgrave, a spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Transportation.
Flash flooding is possible in the stripe from Chicago to Baltimore and Washington, D.C., into Tuesday night, but the most serious threat is in parts of the Ohio Valley and the central Appalachians.
A flood risk level of 3/4 has been issued for the region, which includes Charleston, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Columbus, Ohio, and east of Indianapolis.
Slow-moving fronts interact with juicy tropical air and create storm patterns. The heaviest downpours can produce 1 to 3 inches of rain per hour.
Such extreme rainfall events are becoming more common due to global warming caused by fossil fuel pollution. As the atmosphere warms, it can hold more moisture, which storms can use to create stronger wind gusts.
Many of the same areas at risk of flooding Tuesday are also experiencing severe storms with winds that could knock down trees and knock out power.
The most widespread potential for destructive winds Tuesday afternoon and evening will extend from parts of Indiana, Ohio and eastern Kentucky into the central Appalachians. Wind gusts may exceed 110 km/h in some places. The risk of tornadoes is low, but one or two may occur.
The flood risk area remains roughly the same on Wednesday and Thursday. Areas where the ground is already soggy from storms earlier in the week will be more prone to flooding.
Storm totals could exceed 6 inches in locations with multiple storm days this week. Depending on your location, you may be able to collect these totals within a few hours.
In areas with such high rainfall totals, flood impacts can be more severe and damaging.
More than 6 inches of rain is nearly twice the average rainfall for August (3.43 inches in Cincinnati and 3.75 inches in Charleston, West Virginia).
In other areas, some roads may be flooded and streams and streams may overflow their banks. Urban areas, low-lying areas, and poorly drained areas are most prone to flooding, as are West Virginia’s mountainous regions.
The risk of heavy rain will continue in some areas until Friday, but the rain pattern should ease this weekend as high pressure systems move in to bring storms.
