Severe weather struck across several states in the USA yesterday. A storm brought heavy rain, hail, high winds, and flash flooding to part of Kentucky, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri and Illinois. North Texas was put on tornado watch. The severe weather is expected to continue over the next 24 hours.
Missouri
Governor Jay Nixon declared a state of emergency yesterday 3 April 2014, after flash flooding and strong winds caused damage throughout the state. In his statement he said, “With the continued significant risk of severe storms and flooding, I urge Missourians to closely monitor weather conditions, so they can take shelter or move to higher ground if needed.”
Central Missouri appears to have borne the brunt of the storm and flooding so far. Between 2 and 3 inches (7.6cm) of rain fell overnight. Floods were reported in Boone County, where several roads were closed as a result. Emergency services were called out to rescue some drivers who were trapped in their vehicles in the flood water.
Roads are starting to flood in Boone County. Here's a pic of Wilcox at Route E as of 745am #CoMO pic.twitter.com/cH63HUenWf
— Josh Creamer (@joshcreamer) April 3, 2014
Other counties in Missouri were reported to be at flood risk, including Audrain, Callaway, Cole and Moniteau. Warrensburg in Johnson County, Missouri, was also hit by flooding after a creek in the city – Post Oak Creek – broke its banks after heavy rainfall. Homes were damaged and evacuations had to be made. Some areas of the county received 5 inches (12.7cm) of rain during the storm. To the west of Warrensburg, rialway tracks were flooded and the line between Kansas City and Jefferson City had to be closed by Union Pacific.
This was a flat field just early this morning, now it's a 10ft deep lake after storms in Warrensburg. pic.twitter.com/7slUHm0idl
— Brendaliss Gonzalez (@brendalissg) April 3, 2014
Indiana
Northern Indiana was particularly badly hit by flooding and heavy rain, although central areas also suffered. Tippecanoe County and Greater Lafayett saw some flooding yesterday evening and the situation was expected to worsen during the night after further heavy rain. The county suffered from floods in February this year after snow melt and ice jams caused problems in the areas.
Elsewhere in the state, several roads were reported as flooded in Brown County. In Westfield, Hamilton County, Indiana, emergency services had to make as many as 6 flood rescue after flash flooding struck there.
Emergency responders make several rescue runs in Westfield due to high flood water http://t.co/rLGW2XVRA3 #inwx pic.twitter.com/P6naf5Wvc2
— FOX59 News (@FOX59) April 3, 2014
In Delaware County, levels of the White River at Muncie were rising to flood stage yesterday. Muncie suffered some flooding of roads in the area and two drivers had to be rescued from flood waters.
By Thursday evening, at least 40 counties in the state were under a flood warning.
