Around 14 million people from Kansas to Wisconsin are under flood alerts this weekend as rounds of heavy rain continue to cause severe flash flooding across the Midwest, forcing the Wisconsin State Fair to cancel many of its events.
The flooding has directly impacted southern Wisconsin, including the Milwaukee metropolitan area. On Saturday evening, 24 preliminary storm reports came in for the Upper Midwest, including 80 to 90 mph wind gusts in the Omaha area.
Some of the highest rainfall totals in the past 24 hours were in the Milwaukee area, where west of the city recorded 8 to 11 inches of rain.
Wisconsin State Fair Park, where the state’s fair is held, was forced to close early on Saturday due to flooding. The state fair announced on Sunday that it will not reopen for the day’s events.
“We understand the disappointment you may feel as our team works all year for these 11 days,” the statement, posted to Facebook, read. “However, the safety of our Fairgoers, team, partners, and vendors will always be our top priority.”
An additional round of thunderstorms is expected to impact the Midwest again on Sunday, with a very large cluster of heavy rain moving across Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin and Illinois. Various flood warnings were in place Sunday morning across eastern Iowa and west of Milwaukee. Additional flash flooding is possible, especially in these vulnerable areas affected by Saturday night’s flooding.
Flood alerts from Kansas to Wisconsin will remain in effect into Monday, as 1 to 6 inches of rain will be possible.
Damaging wind gusts may also accompany the heavy rainfall across the Midwest. Sunday’s severe weather risk will be focused over the High Plains, where 4 million are under a Slight Risk, including Denver, Colorado Springs and Dodge City, Kansas. Storms in this region will be capable of 60+ mph wind gusts, large hail and a tornado or two.
As of Sunday morning, the Milwaukee River is reaching major flood stage level, which means a surge of at least 9 feet, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
“Widespread steady rains” were impacting the Milwaukee metropolitan area late Sunday morning, according to the National Weather Service’s field office in Milwaukee.
“An area of storms is moving into far southeastern WI, with additional heavy rainfall possible through 1 PM,” the weather service said. “Storms are moving quick, but are producing 1-2”/hr rainfall rates. Additional Flash Flood Warnings are possible.”
Rainfall was moving toward the west-northwest Milwaukee metropolitan area on Sunday morning, according to the weather service’s field office in the city.
“It will take little rain to get more flash flooding in this area, making this a dangerous situation across west-northwest MKE metro,” the weather service said. “Turn around don’t drown!”
The USA Triathlon announced that the sprint and paratriathlon nationals scheduled to be held on Sunday have been canceled due to “the combination of potential water conditions, flooding and course damage throughout the course, limited emergency response teams to support the event, as well as impending weather for Sunday.”
“We know how much time, training, and anticipation you’ve invested in this event, and we share your disappointment,” USA Triathlon said in a statement. “This was not the outcome any of us wanted. We will follow up soon with more details about next steps, including deferral and credit options.”
Video posted to social media showed flooding in the Milwaukee suburb of Wauwatosa on Saturday. Another video showed cars trapped in deep flood waters at the Wisconsin State Fair.
Loren Kaiser, who has lived in his Wauwatosa house for 20 years, showed an NBC News crew the damage left behind at his home. Kaiser and his family were trying to avoid the floods by leaving town, when floodwaters started rushing in.
“We had the car loaded up and we just decided to try and make a run for it,” he said. “The water just came in and everything in the garage started to float.”
Fire departments in Waukesha County, which includes parts of Milwaukee, were conducting rescues of people trapped in floodwaters on Sunday. The Milwaukee Fire Department has responded to about 614 “emergency assignments” from 8 p.m. Saturday night to 7 a.m. Sunday morning, Chief Aaron Lipski said during a news briefing Sunday afternoon. The incidents include multiple fires and around 65 water rescues.
Lipski reminded the public not to attempt to drive through floodwaters.
“This is how we have hundreds of vehicles around the city blocking intersections, making progress absolutely impossible,” he said.
Milwaukee’s Department of Public Works was also working to assess damage and clear flooded areas in the city.
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley declared a state of emergency in the county as a result of flooding across the region. In a statement, Crowley said his top priority is the life and safety of the county’s residents.
“We’re going to need, possibly, some federal assistance,” Crowley said during Sunday’s briefing, adding that the Wisconsin will declare a state of emergency next in order to secure federal aid.
Crowley reminded residents to prioritize their safety amid the weekend’s weather.
“We want folks to know that we’re all in this together,” he said. “Be safe of any hazards that may be out there, whether that’s in your in your house, in your basement, or out in the streets. You know that we have to look out for one another.”
A Milwaukee Brewers vs. New York Mets game scheduled for Sunday afternoon at the Milwaukee’s American Family Field proceeded as planned, but half of the parking lots were inaccessible as a result of this weekend’s weather, according to a statement from the team.
As of Sunday evening, over 31,000 utility customers were without power in Wisconsin, according to Poweroutage.US. Almost 13,000 are without power in Nebraska.
