Texas flood cleanup continues amid gloomy storm forecast
The National Weather Service warned that thunderstorms producing "excessive rainfall and potential flooding" were forecast Monday and Tuesday. A flood watch was in effect for more than a dozen counties. Among them: Kerr County, where more than 100 people were killed when the Guadalupe River roared over their banks on the Fourth of July.
Rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches with isolated amounts of 3 to 5 inches are possible, the weather service said.
Cleanup from the flooding, delayed Sunday when a new round of storms swept through the area, is once again underway, officials in Kerr County said.
"Broken but unbowed. We remain proud Americans," Gov. Greg Abbott said in a social media post that showed an American flag waving amid the destruction. "Thanks to people across the country for your outpouring of support."
Timeline of tragedy: How the floods unfolded
In the early days of July, pieces of weather systems were converging to bring devastation to the Texas Hill Country, transforming the Guadalupe River into a monster raging out of its banks in the pre-dawn hours of July 4. At least 129 people have died, and at least 160 are listed as missing.
The hours leading up to the disaster, and the actions taken to protect the lives of those in the water's hellish fury, are critical to understanding what happened and whether more could have been done in the name of safety. Through a National Weather Service messaging service with emergency management officials and broadcast meteorologists, U.S. Geological Survey data and other records, USA TODAY has pieced together a timeline of the calamity on the Guadalupe. See the details here.
− Dinah Voyles Pulver
'Don't drown': Timeline of the Guadalupe River flooding disaster
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Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Flash flooding swamps Northeast metro areas as extreme rain threatens millions
Millions across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic remain under flash flood watches early Tuesday as slow-moving summer storms brought heavy showers to the East Coast, impacting transportation and leaving people stranded in vehicles on waterlogged roads. Flooding was reported near Newark, New Jersey, New York City, northern Virginia and southern Maryland, according to the National Weather Service, with more rain to come Tuesday. A state of emergency was declared in New Jersey due to ongoing flooding, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday night, warning residents to 'remain off the roads unless absolutely necessary.' The weather service has warned that more rain is expected Tuesday after heavy showers swept east, including across New York City, which experienced its second wettest hour on record Monday night after a little over 2 inches fell between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. local time. This record is only beat by the approximately three-and-a-half inches of rain recorded during the remnants of Hurricane Ida in 2021. New York City received a total of 2.64 inches of rain, shattering its previous record for July 14th rainfall set in 1908. Videos on social media showed water gushing onto platforms in New York's subway and flowing through subway cars as passengers crouched on seats. At least one subway station was flooded by the deluge, according to a spokesperson with the Metropolitan Transit Authority. Several trains were also suspended, delayed or rerouted due to the flooding, according to MTA's website. Metro-North Railroad and New Jersey Transit said on their X accounts that they were also experiencing delays due to flooding. Several airports in the New York City area issued temporary ground stops and delays Monday evening, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Impacts to air travel were also reported at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Boston Logan International Airport. In New Jersey and Pennsylvania, cars struggled to navigate flooded streets, according to videos on social media, with multiple people needing to be assisted, according to authorities. North Plainfield, New Jersey, Mayor Lawrence La Ronde told CNN affiliate WABC that emergency crews rescued people from at least 30 homes, after streets became completely flooded and were impassable. About 30 people were sheltering overnight at a local community center, he said. Flash flood warnings were extended well in to the evening hours Monday in New Jersey's Essex and Union counties due the rain, according to the National Weather Service. In Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 16 water rescues were reported in Mount Joy Township Monday afternoon, according to the Mount Joy Fire Department. 'Starting around 2:00 p.m., intense rainfall dropped over 7 inches of rain in less than five hours, overwhelming stormwater infrastructure and inundating portions of the borough,' the fire department said in a Facebook post. 'The west end of town was hardest hit, with reports of over 5 feet of water in some homes.' A photo taken by the Franklin Fire Company showed firefighters conducting a water rescue after occupants became trapped in their vehicle in flood waters. In Virginia, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency late Monday for the cities of Petersburg and Colonial Heights, where upwards of 2-3 inches of rain fell in less than 2 hours. Numerous water rescues were underway in Petersburg, it said in a post on X, as stream gauges surged to flood levels and intense rainfall rates continued. As of early Tuesday morning, more than 200,000 people remained under a flash flood warning. Millions more, including those in the Washington, DC, Baltimore and Philadelphia metro areas, are under a flood watch. Showers began developing Monday morning and dominated the Northeast by the latter half of the day as temperatures rose. The heaviest storms arrived by early evening, threatening rush hour commuters. Much of the area inside the flood watch has seen up to 300% of their normal rainfall over the past two weeks. The recent rainfall, especially in parts of central New York and Pennsylvania over the weekend, has meant the soil is more saturated, raising the risk of severe flooding. Places along the Berkshires in Massachusetts and Binghamton, New York, recorded as much as 4.5 inches of rain over 72 hours. In a typical year, the weather service office in the DC-Baltimore area issues one or two moderate risk rainfall outlooks. This July alone, there have already been three: July 1, 9 and 14. In the past month, there have only been seven days when the DC-Baltimore area wasn't under any excessive rainfall threat. Record-breaking flood events have happened nearly back-to-back in recent weeks, most notably in Texas' Hill Country, where more than 130 people died after catastrophic flooding on July 4. New Mexico, North Carolina and other East Coast states have also seen life-threatening floods and historic rainfall this month. Overwhelming rainfall is becoming more prevalent in a warming world, as rising global temperatures drive weather toward extremes. Hourly rainfall rates have grown heavier in nearly 90% of large US cities since 1970, according to a recent study from the nonprofit research group Climate Central. Storms thrive on warm, moist air, and with the nation approaching peak summer heat, this month has seen the perfect conditions for flooding rain. Heat-driven storms can drop torrential rain and tend to move more slowly and stagnate, as upper-level winds in the atmosphere weaken this time of year. In urban areas, flood risk increases in part due to infrastructure. Many roads, sewers and drainage systems in the US were not designed to handle the kind of extreme rainfall events that are now becoming more common. Concrete and pavement disrupt the natural absorption of water runoff, which keeps rain from soaking into the ground and instead sends it to storm drains that can easily overflow or become clogged with debris. This story has been updated with additional information. CNN's Jillian Sykes, Taylor Romine, Sarah Dewberry and Briana Waxman contributed to this report.
CNN
23 minutes ago
- CNN
5 things to know for July 15: Flash flooding, HHS firings, Education lawsuit, Childhood vaccinations, Tariffs
5 Things Storms Vaccines Trump legal casesFacebookTweetLink Follow As Russian forces rained drones and missiles down on Kyiv last week, Ukrainian authorities urged residents to hide in bomb shelters and basements for safety. But one group was undeterred by the danger. A seriously ill child was in desperate need of a new heart, and when one became available, a doctor and his staff made the treacherous 10-mile journey across the capital city to deliver their precious cargo. Here's what else you need to know to get up to speed and on with your day. Millions in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region remain under flash-flood warnings this morning. According to the National Weather Service, slow-moving summer storms have already caused flooding in New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and Maryland, with more rain expected today. New York City experienced its second-wettest hour on record after a little over 2 inches of rain fell between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Monday. 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Carolina Wilga, 26, also said she was 'beyond grateful to have survived' her ordeal and thanked the people who searched for her. Will such deep discounts bring audiences back to the theater and help revive the movie industry? Theatergoers attending the show, 'The Neil Diamond Musical: A Beautiful Noise,' in Los Angeles last weekend were thrilled when the man himself led an impromptu sing-along. 1,800+That's how many earthquakes have shaken a remote Japanese island in the past three weeks. 'I'm not yours to silence. I never was.' — Comedian and actress Rosie O'Donnell, in response to President Trump's post on social media that said he was giving serious consideration to revoking her US citizenship. 🌤️ Check your local forecast to see what you can expect. Tijuana, Mexico, has set a new record for the world's largest margarita. 5 Things AM is edited by CNN's Andrew Torgan.
Miami Herald
39 minutes ago
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New York and New Jersey Flash Flooding, Rain Warnings: Live Tracker Maps
Torrential rain hit the U.S. Northeast on Monday night, flooding several parts of New York and New Jersey, forcing highway closures, suspending subway lines, and prompting New Jersey's governor to declare a state of emergency. Flash flood warnings and watches stretched from Virginia through Pennsylvania, as communities contended with fast-rising waters and significant travel disruption. Social media videos showed dramatic scenes of floodwater pouring into Manhattan subway stations and buses left stranded by rising water in towns such as Scotch Plains, New Jersey. Interactive maps from showed the affected areas. The rainfall and resulting flash floods brought widespread disruption to millions of commuters, exposing vulnerabilities in urban transit and infrastructure. Heavy rain across the mid-Atlantic region intensified concerns about severe weather trends, with meteorologists noting that the confluence of slow-moving storms and hot, humid air exacerbated flood risks disproportionately in urbanized areas between New Jersey and Washington, D.C. The National Weather Service advised that, although rain had lessened by late Monday, flood threats persisted in northeast New Jersey, eastern and central Pennsylvania, and southeast New York, especially Staten Island, an area that received between 4 and 6 inches of rain overnight. New Jersey Governor Philip D. Murphy declared a state of emergency following the widespread flooding that shut down highways, stranded public transit, and submerged vehicles. Buses and trains experienced major delays, with several New Jersey Transit lines rerouted or halted. "I have declared a State of Emergency out of an abundance of caution due to flash flooding and severe thunderstorms across the state," said Gov. Murphy. "I urge New Jerseyans to exercise caution, follow all safety protocols, and remain off the roads unless absolutely necessary." The Metropolitan Transportation Authority suspended some subway service and warned of severe delays on others, as floodwaters poured into underground stations. In Westchester County, New York, rescue crews waded through inundated streets to reach stranded motorists. Carolyn Fortino, spokesperson for the Westchester County executive, wrote, "At this time, residents are still strongly advised to avoid all travel unless fleeing an area that is subject to flooding, or under an evacuation order," in an email to The Associated Press late Monday. Flight delays mounted at John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia airports, with dozens of flights canceled at Newark. Major regional roadways-including the Saw Mill River Parkway, Taconic State Parkway, and Cross Bronx Expressway-faced closures due to flooding and debris. Emergency services warned drivers to stay away from water-covered roads, as rescues continued into the night. Mount Joy in southeastern Pennsylvania declared a disaster emergency after more than seven inches of rain fell in under five hours, forcing at least 16 water rescues, though no injuries were reported. Borough Emergency Management Coordinator Philip Colvin said, "The declaration enables us to access additional resources to support residents and accelerate recovery efforts," in a public statement on Monday. Water in Mount Joy and in parts of New Jersey had begun to recede by Monday evening, but cleanup operations were expected to continue for days. Related Articles Videos Show Flash Floods Swamping New York Subways, TrainsHow to Watch New York Atlas vs Boston Cannons: Live Stream Premier Lacrosse League, TV ChannelBrad Lander Said ICE Agent That Arrested Him Considered Mamdani VoteZohran Mamdani's Father's Remark About Suicide Bombers Comes Under Scrutiny 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
