Flooding in the central U.S. will see a respite from rain, yet rising river levels persist.
Unleashing Chaos in the South and Midwest
Torrential downpours from a relentless line of storms have turned havoc across various regions of the South and Midwest. This destructive onslaught of weather has claimed at least 19 lives since the latter part of last week, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
The south-central United States has been particularly hard-hit, with over a foot of rain drenching the region since Wednesday. Dozens of daily rainfall records were shattered in Arkansas and Tennessee over the weekend. Little Rock, Memphis, and Nashville all received record-breaking rainfall, making it a nastily wet April for these cities.
The relentless deluge has also triggered a dangerous chain of tornadoes spanning across the central US. As of Saturday, the National Weather Service has reported at least 31 tornadoes since the storms began, with three of them rated EF3 strength. The United States has now witnessed 10 consecutive days of tornadoes.
In Tennessee alone, ten lives were lost to the relentless flooding, one of those being a 5-year-old boy discovered in a storm-ravaged home in Arkansas. A 9-year-old Kentucky boy also met his demise, swept away by the floodwaters while making his way to the school bus stop. On Sunday, a father and son perished on a Georgia golf course when the tree they sought shelter under dislodged and fell upon them — a tragedy reported by CNN affiliate WTVM.
Despite the dayslong rain finally subsiding as of Monday, the flood threat remains grave across the South and Midwest. Rivers are still swelling in several flood-stricken states. One such river — the Kentucky River — is predicted to peak in Frankfort, Kentucky, just shy of the city's protective flood walls.
Wendy Quire, general manager of the Brown Barrel restaurant in downtown Frankfort, shared her sentiments with the Associated Press: "As long as I've been alive - and I'm 52 - this is the worst I've ever seen it."
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In neighboring Kentucky, the floodwaters have triggered evacuations, water rescues, and urgent pleas to relocate to higher ground. Frankfort, particularly, faces the threat of record-breaking levels on the Kentucky River, with the flood wall system designed to withstand only 51 ft. of water, assuming all protective measures are in place.
If containment efforts are not sufficient, floodwaters could overflow in unprotected areas, potentially covering roadways and seeping into basements and lower levels of homes. Mayor Layne Wilkerson of Frankfort enforced a curfew overnight Sunday into Monday, citing it as a necessary precaution to ensure public safety, prevent looting and vandalism, and enable the efficient operation of first responders and recovery teams.
Emergency crews worked through the night to contain a significant spill of motor oil and diesel fuel at a trucking garage outside Butler. Nearby residents were urged to evacuate, and anyone choosing to remain was warned that utilities could be disrupted and water rescues might not be immediately available. Meanwhile, in Butler and Falmouth, selfless residents rallied together to assist an older neighbor in moving their belongings to safety.
Water rescues were also carried out on Sunday near Colesburg, about 30 miles south of Louisville, as waters in the Rolling Fork River rose rapidly. Drone footage of nearby New Haven reveals the aftermath of the river bursting its banks, inundating properties on the town's main street with brown water. As the road exits town, it transforms into a causeway, concealing fields beneath vast expanses of water.
Eastern Kentucky has witnessed severe flooding as well, with footage from Wilmore showcasing a line of homes completely surrounded by water — some with the water level almost reaching their rooftops. Red inflatable boats traverse the neighborhood on what were previously yards and streets.
Governor Andy Beshear of Kentucky has declared a state of emergency, urging everyone to take the flooding seriously. As a result, several courts and administrative offices will remain closed throughout the week.
Broader issues also impact neighboring Ohio, where floodwaters have struck regions just north of Cincinnati. Emergency crews rescued a homeless woman ensnared by floodwaters in downtown Cincinnati early Sunday, while another rescue was necessary later that day after a driver disregarded road closure signs blocking a former amusement park. The driver managed to escape unscathed but required rescue from their submerged vehicle. CNN reached out to the Cincinnati Police Department for comment.
CNN's Karina Tsui, Susannah Cullinane, Jacob Lev, and meteorologist Gene Norman contributed to this report.
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Enrichment Data:
- Flooding Across the States: The Kentucky River in Frankfort is expected to reach record-breaking levels, bringing mandatory evacuations and road closures, according to Local news sources.
- Historic Flooding Predicted: The Ohio Valley region, including Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio, could experience some of the worst flooding in the past century, as forecast by WLWT meteorologist John Cramer.
- The relentless flooding in Tennessee has resulted in nearly devastating quantities of rainfall, shattering daily records and claiming ten lives, including a young boy in Arkansas.
- Despite the floodwaters finally receding in some areas since Monday, the threat continues to persist, especially in Kentucky, where the Kentucky River is predicted to peak at record-breaking levels, necessitating urgent evacuations and road closures.
- Amidst the widespread flooding across the South and Midwest, states like Kentucky and Ohio are on high alert, facing the possibility of experiencing some of the worst flooding in over a century, as forecasters predict.
