North Central US Could Get More Rain After Deadly Floods Surround Dam

Some areas of the waterlogged north-central United States could see more storms, after days of heavy downpours caused flooding that left at least two dead, the overflowing of a river around a dam, and evacuations and rescues.

Strong storms were expected Tuesday afternoon and evening with large hail, dangerous winds and even a brief tornado or two in parts of western Iowa and eastern Nebraska, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). in English).

Showers and storms could also occur in parts of South Dakota and Minnesota, according to the agency.

The flooding in these states has coincided with a widespread and persistent heat wave. Some populations affected by the floods were under excessive heat alert on Monday, with temperatures around 38 degrees Celsius. Another day of dangerously hot and humid weather was expected in the Omaha area this Tuesday.

More than 3 million people live in flood-affected areas, from Omaha, Nebraska, to St. Paul, Minnesota. The storms dumped a large amount of water from Thursday into Saturday. South of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, up to 18 inches fell according to the National Weather Service.

Some places that didn’t get as much rain still had to deal with water coming downstream. Many streams may not reach their highest flows until later this week, especially if rain continues, as flood water slowly drains through a tangle of tributaries to the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. The Missouri will crest in Omaha on Thursday, said NWS hydrologist Kevin Low.

An Illinois man died Saturday while trying to go around a barricade in the city of Spencer, Iowa, Sioux City channel KTIV-TV reported. His pickup truck was swept away by the Little Sioux River, Clay County police said. Authorities recovered his body on Monday.

At least one person died in South Dakota, Gov. Kristi Noem said, without giving details.

“I’ve never had to evacuate my house,” said Hank Howley, a 71-year-old resident of North Sioux City, South Dakota, as he joined others on a levee on the swollen Big Sioux River, where a railroad bridge collapsed on Sunday. yesterday. “We are at the highest point of the town. But what good is it when the rest of the town is flooded?”

The bridge connected North Sioux City, South Dakota, to Sioux City, Iowa, and fell into the Big Sioux River at about 11 p.m. Sunday, officials said. Images in local media showed a wide stretch of the steel bridge partially underwater as the flood flow passed over it.

No injuries were reported from the collapse. The bridge’s owner, BNSF Railway, had diverted traffic as a precaution, according to spokesman Kendall Sloan. Only a few trains used it a day, he noted, and the detours were not expected to have a significant impact.

Flooding has damaged roads and bridges, closed or destroyed businesses, forced hospitals and residences to evacuate, and left entire towns without power or drinking water, according to the governors of Iowa and South Dakota.

Outside Mankato, Minnesota, local police said there was a “partial failure” in the support structure on the west side of the Rapidan Dam on the Blue Earth River after debris blocked the flow through the dam. The water eroded the western bank.

Eric Weller, director of emergency management for the Blue Earth County sheriff, said the bank would likely erode further, but he did not expect the concrete dam itself to fail. The only two homes located downstream have already been evacuated.

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