Severe Weather Wreaks Havoc Across South and Midwest
Dyersburg, Tennessee — Intense rain and flash floods continued to batter areas of the South and Midwest over the weekend, compounding the challenges faced by regions already drenched from a series of severe storms. As rivers swelled and destructive tornadoes emerged, meteorologists cautioned that water levels might keep rising for several days.
Throughout Saturday night and into Sunday morning, states like Alabama and Mississippi were under new tornado alerts, while Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee grappled with flash flood warnings. These consistent downpours have expanded waterways across the central U.S., leading to emergency alerts from Texas to Ohio. The National Weather Service issued warnings for numerous locations, predicting they would hit “major flood stage,” risking substantial flooding and damage to infrastructure.
The relentless weather has claimed at least 16 lives, 10 of which were in Tennessee. Tragedy struck in Missouri when a 57-year-old man lost his life after his car was swept from the road in West Plains. Kentucky also saw heartache with two lives lost – a 9-year-old boy taken by floodwaters on his school route and a 74-year-old found in a submerged car. In Little Rock, Arkansas, a 5-year-old fell victim to the weather, though details remain sparse. Earlier tornadoes contributed to seven fatal casualties.
The storms have not only taken lives but also disrupted travel. On Saturday, data from FlightAware.com revealed over 6,400 flights experienced delays or cancellations within the U.S. and in other countries. This may impact commercial activities, especially around major cargo centers in Louisville, Kentucky, and Memphis, warned Jonathan Porter from AccuWeather.
Adding to the difficulties, overhauls to the National Weather Service staffing have left nearly half the offices with 20% fewer staff than a decade ago. In Louisville, Mayor Craig Greenberg highlighted the severity of the situation, observing a five-foot rise in the Ohio River within a day. He anticipated it becoming one of Louisville’s worst flood events.
Flash flood and tornado warnings persisted across states like Arkansas, Mississippi, and Kentucky into the weekend. Kentucky, in particular, faced a flood watch, with countless roads made impassable by floodwaters and debris. Some relief came when downtown Hopkinsville briefly reopened after the Little River receded, though Mayor James R. Knight Jr. noted more rain was expected.
Falmouth, a small town in north-central Kentucky, faced a mandatory evacuation due to concerns over the rising Licking River, drawing parallels to the catastrophic flooding nearly three decades ago. Meanwhile, Arkansas officials urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel due to widespread flooding. The situation led to a washout of a BNSF Railway bridge in Mammoth Spring causing railcar derailments, though no injuries were reported.
Forecasters attributed the severe weather to an interplay of warm temperatures, unstable atmospheric conditions, strong winds, and moisture from the Gulf. Since midweek, various regions have seen over a foot of rain in Kentucky and significant rainfall in Arkansas and Missouri; combined with tornado sightings in Arkansas and Missouri, severe damage swept across the South.
In Tennessee, as the storms raged, many sought refuge in a shelter, including George Manns, 77, who recalled rushing to safety with his essentials, fearing another tornado might strike.