After an extended period of severe rain and wind, which claimed at least 18 lives in the southern and midwestern United States, rivers continued to rise, exacerbating flooding conditions on Sunday. The affected regions faced significant threats to waterlogged and severely damaged communities. Utility companies worked to cut power and gas supplies from Texas to Ohio, while cities took measures to close roads and use sandbags to protect homes and businesses.
In Kentucky, particularly in the capital city of Frankfort, downtown areas became inundated with floodwaters. Wendy Quire, the general manager of the Brown Barrel restaurant, described it as the worst flooding she had ever witnessed in her 52 years. The Kentucky River’s rise prompted officials to close roads and disable power and gas to businesses in the surrounding area.
The ongoing global climate crisis is contributing to heavier rainfall and increased flood risks in many parts of the United States, with the upper Midwest and Ohio River Valley being among the most affected. Forecasters have predicted that flooding could persist for days, affecting states such as Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama. Tornadoes are also possible in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.
In total, there have been 18 reported deaths since the storms began on Wednesday, with 10 of those fatalities occurring in Tennessee. A nine-year-old boy in Kentucky was swept away by floodwaters while walking to catch his school bus, and a five-year-old boy in Arkansas died when a tree fell on his family’s home. Additionally, a 16-year-old volunteer firefighter in Missouri died in a crash while attempting to rescue people trapped in the storm.
The National Weather Service warned that dozens of locations across multiple states could reach a “major flood stage,” resulting in extensive flooding of structures, roads, and critical infrastructure. There were 521 domestic and international flights canceled, and over 6,400 flights were delayed on Saturday. Additionally, concerns have been raised about staffing shortages at National Weather Service forecast offices following job cuts under the Trump administration.
Officials issued flash flood and tornado warnings across Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky, with eastern Kentucky under a flood watch until Sunday morning. North-central Kentucky saw mandatory evacuations ordered for Falmouth and Butler, towns near the rising Licking River. The National Weather Service reported that Jonesboro, Arkansas experienced its wettest day in April since 1893, with 5.06 inches of rain falling. Memphis and West Memphis, Tennessee, received heavy rainfall since Wednesday.
Forecasters attribute the severe weather to a combination of warm temperatures, an unstable atmosphere, strong winds, and excessive moisture from the Gulf. In Dyersburg, Tennessee, dozens of people sought refuge in a storm shelter near a public school, some of whom had recently experienced a tornado that caused significant damage. Among them was George Manns, who brought his essential belongings with him to ensure their safety in case his apartment was destroyed.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/06/deadly-severe-storms-rising-rivers-flooding-south-midwest
