32 million people are under flood alerts in the mid-South and the Southeast on Sunday as a result of a weekend of intense rain and fatal flash flooding that is still occurring in portions of the Midwest and the South.
Severe weather has killed at least 19 individuals, with 10 of the deaths occurring in Tennessee. The most recent ones were two in Jasper and Pontotoc counties in Mississippi and a 57-year-old man from O’Fallon, Missouri, whose vehicle went into floodwaters.
Strong gusts, big hail, and a few tornadoes were produced by storms on Saturday in areas of the lower Ohio Valley and the lower to middle Mississippi Valley.
On Sunday, the same dangers are moving eastward into the Southeast, which includes the area from eastern Louisiana to eastern Tennessee, as well as the central and southern Appalachian Mountains. Little Rock, Arkansas; Memphis, Tennessee; Atlanta; and Indianapolis are all in the risk area.
On Sunday, some parts of Arkansas had already begun to recover.
The Pulaski County administration released a statement saying, “After days of severe weather and flooding, our county is finally catching its breath. Cleanup efforts are in full swing.”
Tennessee officials launched the state’s “Crisis Cleanup” efforts on Sunday, warning onlookers and motorists to stay away from flooded roads, avoid potential dangers, and turn around.
After being unable to reach his father due to extensive flooding in the town of Rives, Dominic Scott visited his father’s house on Sunday. When he witnessed the amount of the flooding at the house, he expressed relief.
“The water line is right up to the doorstep, but it hasn’t quite made it in the house as far as I know,” he stated. “But if it keeps raining like this, it’ll probably flood the house.”
North central Kentucky towns of Falmouth and Butler had to evacuate due to flooded rivers. A state of emergency was proclaimed by Bowling Green Mayor Todd Alcott on Sunday afternoon, advising citizens to “stay out of flooded and low lying areas.”
A military jet stationed just above the ground was surrounded by murky water that nearly topped a crowd barrier in a video that Bowling Green’s Aviation Heritage Park & Museum shared on Facebook.
At a press conference on Sunday, officials said that during the storm, first responders in McKracken County performed five swift-water rescues. The Ohio River is predicted to crest in the coming days, and although though flash flooding seemed to be past, up to ten floodgates are likely to be set up Monday, they added.
As the Kentucky River continued to rise and roads were inundated on Sunday, some Frankfort residents took to the water. Authorities claimed that businesses in the neighborhood had their utilities stopped and traffic rerouted.
Malvern, Arkansas, received drinkable water from the National Guard on Sunday after a lightning strike contributed to the town’s water supply being cut off.
According to official forecasters, the lethal weather system was heading east on Sunday, concentrating on the Appalachians, middle Georgia, west-central Georgia, portions of northern Florida, and central Alabama.
The prediction was for heavy rains, thunderstorms, and potential flash floods.
According to the meteorological service, the system will continue to move eastward into Monday, moving into the Southeast and southern mid-Atlantic. It may bring with it some tornadoes, destructive wind gusts, and severe thunderstorms.
There is a minor danger of severe weather for around 11 million people in the region, including in Birmingham, Alabama, and Atlanta.
Three million people in Savannah, Georgia, and Jacksonville and Tallahassee, Florida, will be impacted by the threat, which will persist in the Southeast through Monday. Tornadoes, quarter-sized hail, and strong 60 mph winds are also conceivable.
Temperatures from the Southern Plains to the Great Lakes will drop 10 to 25 degrees below normal behind the powerful storm system. Sunday afternoon highs were predicted to be in the 40s to 50s, while overnight lows were predicted to be in the 20s to 40s.
On Sunday night, 27 million people in Oklahoma City, Kansas City, St. Louis, Missouri, Indianapolis, and other places are under a freeze alert.
Through Tuesday, temperatures in the eastern half of the country are expected to remain below average, with the second part of the week seeing the return of seasonal highs.
This information has been sourced from NBC News.
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