Waterlogged states get no relief
A new storm is expected to bring additional misery this week to areas struggling to recover from a relentless series of weekend storms and tornadoes.
On Tuesday, downpours and gusty thunderstorms will drench areas from central Texas to central Arkansas and southern Tennessee, AccuWeather said.
The new weather system will further soak sodden areas through Thursday, Weather Channel meteorologist Chris Dolce said.
“After a few dry days, rain will return to some of the waterlogged cities in those regions, exacerbating the flooding situation,” Dolce said.
Roughly 70 rivers were in flood stage as of midday Monday in the central USA, the National Weather Service said. Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia can expect flood threats Wednesday into early Thursday.
Severe storms, including the chance for tornadoes, are forecast to fire up on Wednesday from Dallas to Nashville, AccuWeather said.
Floodwaters on the Ohio River in both Louisville and Cincinnati are at their highest level in about 20 years. The river was expected to reach moderate flood stage along the southern border of Ohio and West Virginia in the coming days, the weather service said.
In Cincinnati, Andrew Scheetz’s basement was swamped by 4 feet of water.
“We’re pumping 420 gallons a minute,” he said. “But we don’t know if it’s really helping because water is still coming in through the foundation.”
In Kentucky, 2.9 inches of rain Saturday capped off one of the wettest weeks, and months, in Louisville history. The Ohio River rose more than 20 feet above normal, stranding residents, waterlogging cars and submerging local homes and businesses.
Mayor Greg Fischer said he would ask the Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance.