Latest news with #FlashFloodEmergencies
New York Post
16-07-2025
- Climate
- New York Post
Chicago, Denver under threat of severe storms packing large hail, damaging wind
A clash of air masses on Wednesday will result in the threat of severe storms from Milwaukee and Chicago westward to Denver and the eastern Rockies. The Storm Prediction Center has placed large parts of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Colorado under a 'slight' risk of severe storms – a Level 2 out of 5 on its severe storm scale. Cities such as Milwaukee, Chicago, Green Bay, Peoria, and Davenport are all included in the threat in the eastern zone, while Denver and Cheyenne are included in the western risk zone. The FOX Forecast Center says the greatest potential for severe storms will develop Wednesday afternoon and evening, as factors such as daytime heating and instability reach their peak. The stronger cells could produce hail, damaging wind, and even tornadoes, but the biggest threat will be gusty winds as the storms generally move from west to east. The threat of severe weather is expected to taper off between sunset and the overnight hours as the frontal boundary slowly moves through the region. In addition to the severe weather threat, dew points and precipitable water values are expected to be high, meaning any thunderstorm that develops will have the potential to drop 1-2 inches of rain in a short period, leading to a flash flooding threat. 4 A clash of air masses on Wednesday will result in the threat of severe storms from Milwaukee and Chicago westward to Denver and the eastern Rockies. AP Communities around Davenport, Iowa, and Chicago have already experienced significant flooding, with areas recently placed under Flash Flood Warnings and Flash Flood Emergencies. Just 6 inches of moving water can knock an adult off their feet, while a foot of floodwater can cause a vehicle to stall and float away. According to NOAA historical data, an average of 127 people die from flooding each year, with nearly half of those fatalities involving vehicles. 4 The FOX Forecast Center says the greatest potential for severe storms will develop Wednesday afternoon and evening, as factors such as daytime heating and instability reach their peak. FOX Weather 4 Authorities in the Windy City declared an 'Air Pollution Action Day' on Tuesday as particle and ozone levels were expected to reach the unhealthy range. X/NWSChicago In addition to providing some drought relief, the wet weather is expected to help clear the air of wildfire smoke that has lingered over the region. Air quality alerts were in effect before the arrival of the wet weather, as wildfires from Canada and daily pollution combined to produce unhealthy levels of ozone. Authorities in the Windy City declared an 'Air Pollution Action Day' on Tuesday as particle and ozone levels were expected to reach the unhealthy range. 4 In addition to the severe weather threat, dew points and precipitable water values are expected to be high, meaning any thunderstorm that develops will have the potential to drop 1-2 inches of rain in a short period, reports say. AP The National Weather Service encouraged children and sensitive adults to limit outdoor activities and spend time in a well-ventilated setting. Once the front moves through, it should bring more pleasant weather, with highs expected to reach only the 70s on Friday and 80s on Saturday before more wet weather moves in over the weekend and into next week.
New York Post
14-07-2025
- Climate
- New York Post
Texas pounded by second wave of river flooding, stalling crucial search & rescue efforts
KERRVILLE, Texas – The Lone Star State continues to grapple with a heartbreaking series of events. Just over a week after the initial catastrophic and deadly deluges, heavy rains and devastating flash floods have returned, pounding Texas once more. A riverside memorial in Kerrville, Texas, is steadily becoming a central gathering point for the community to mourn and remember those taken by the recent floods. This renewed onslaught, particularly intense on Sunday, not only caused widespread damage and new evacuations but has also severely hindered ongoing search and rescue operations for the dozens still missing from the initial July 4 floods. The initial floods have already claimed at least 129 lives, with over 170 people still unaccounted for. The latest gut punch to the state saw significant rainfall return over the weekend, leading to fresh Flash Flood Emergencies as the San Saba River rapidly rose to major flood stage, prompting mandatory evacuations for residents in low-lying areas. 9 The initial floods have already claimed at least 129 lives, with over 170 people still unaccounted for. 9 Rescuers assisting a person from a flooded vehicle. via REUTERS Meanwhile, the city of Kerrville, still reeling from the previous week's events, experienced another round of intense downpours, with local police urging residents and even news crews to move away from the rapidly swelling Guadalupe River. '(It's) the last thing that these search crews need as they are still looking for so many still missing from last weekend's flash flooding,' reported FOX Weather's Katie Byrne from Kerrville on Monday morning. 'That search still happening in miles of riverbanks and in the water, and we're expecting more rain here, unfortunately, through Wednesday.' 9 A tow truck driver attempts to recover a submerged car during flash flooding. Getty Images 9 Search and rescue team with cadaver dog searching flood-damaged area. Getty Images 9 Debris from homes lays along the bank of the Guadalupe River. Getty Images Byrne had been in Kerrville reporting on the disaster when her cellphone began to blare, warning people to move to higher ground. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott confirmed that dozens of rescues took place in areas like Lampasas and San Saba, where rivers and creeks swelled dramatically. Lampasas, located northeast of Kerr County, saw its river rise from a normal 10-foot level to over 30 feet, leading to widespread road closures and evacuations. 9 Map of Texas highlighting Gillespie and Kerr Counties at significant risk of flash flooding. 9 Roberto Marquez places a cross at a memorial wall for flood victims, Sunday, July 13, 2025. AP Sunday's intermittent heavy rainfall temporarily suspended some search efforts for victims from the initial Fourth of July 4 flooding, which devastated communities, particularly in Kerr County. The death toll, primarily concentrated in that county, continues to climb, with many of the missing, including young campers at Camp Mystic along the Guadalupe River. The FOX Forecast Center said Kerrville saw another 3-4 inches of rain in only a couple of hours Sunday. The Guadalupe near Hunt, Texas, luckily remained out of any flood stage, even with all of the rain that fell. 9 The FOX Forecast Center said Kerrville saw another 3-4 inches of rain in only a couple of hours Sunday. The Guadalupe near Hunt, Texas, luckily remained out of any flood stage, even with all of the rain that fell. Xinhua/Shutterstock 9 Rain falls near memorial for flood victims along the Guadalupe River. AP Despite the setbacks, teams of first responders stress that they are determined to resume their critical, life-saving work Monday as the immediate threat of the heaviest storms diminishes. The FOX Forecast Center said the chances of storms will start to decrease on Monday, heading into Tuesday. However, even though fewer storms are expected overall, any storm that does develop could bring a quick 1-2 inches of rain. Heading into next weekend, the entire state of Texas will begin to dry out as a large mid-level ridge parks itself over the south, the FOX Forecast Center adds. This will deflect any storms up-and-over the ridge, leaving Texas dry.
