Historic flash floods hit Milwaukee as Midwest faces heavy rains threat
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First responders rescue people and pets from flooding in their homes on Aug. 10 in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Photo: Andy Manis/Getty Images
Record flooding rains fell in Wisconsin over the weekend, triggering dozens of water rescues, shutting down the Wisconsin State Fair and prompting Milwaukee County officials to declare a state of emergency.
Threat level: The extreme weather that began on Saturday night continued to threaten parts of Wisc. on Sunday evening, with the National Weather Service expecting "repeated rounds of heavy rain" across portions of the Midwest, Central Plains, and Southeast through Monday.
- The storm system was capable of producing flash flooding, "some of which may be significant," across the Midwest and Central Plains, according to the NWS.
The big picture: Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson told reporters there had been "major property damage" in the storm, along with widespread power outages and damage to vehicles.
- Milwaukee Fire Department chief Aaron Lipski said at the briefing crews had "pulled dozens of people out of cars and off of cars trapped in the middle of flood water," noting "we are still in the middle" of the storm.
By the numbers: Johnson said the storm caused a foot of rain to fall "in a very short period of time" in some places.
- Milwaukee saw 5.74 inches within hours on Saturday night, marking a new daily record and the city's second-wettest day ever recorded.
- "Torrential rainfall exceeding 10 inches, with an additional two inches forecasted, has overwhelmed local drainage systems," said Milwaukee County executive David Crowley in his emergency declaration Sunday.
- There had been 65 water rescues by lunchtime Sunday local time, per Lipski.
- The Milwaukee River reached a record high crest of 11.19 feet, according to data at Milwaukee-Estabrook Park.
Between the lines: Climate change is increasing the frequency and magnitude of precipitation extremes, studies show.
Scenes from Wisconsin's historic flooding
More from Axios:
- Intense rainfall tied to climate change
- Why flash floods are becoming more common
- Flooding set to cost U.S. hundreds of billions as risks mount
- We've had a record number of flash flood warnings this year
Editor's note: This article has been updated with a Facebook post by the NWS' Milwaukee/Sullivan Wisconsin office.
