Powerful storms that swept through parts of the US Midwest starting Wednesday, June 22, have now moved east over the Mid-Atlantic states and caused significant flash flooding in parts of West Virginia. Mudslides, rockslides, and flooding damaged homes, businesses, roads, and bridges. A State of Emergency was declared for 44 West Virginia counties.
Significant flooding in West Virginia, state of emergency declared
http://thewatchers.adorraeli.com/2016/06/24/significant-flooding-in-west-virginia-state-of-emergency-declared/
The news comes just one day after a 'low-end' derecho formed and swept through parts of the Midwest and into Mid-Atlantic states, leaving a trail of damage and thousands without power all the way to Virginia.
Intense rainfall has proved very dangerous for parts of West Virginia on Thursday, June 23.
According to the National Weather Service, the dam at Summit Lake in Greenbrier County was temporarily breached due to heavy amount of rain. People living in Richwood, Nicholas County, started leaving their homes.
By the end of the day, at least two people have lost their lives. An eight-year-old boy died after he slipped into Big Wheeling Creek in Jackson County and was swept by raging water. In Kanawha County, an elderly man drowned in floodwaters.
Up to 254 mm (10 inches) of rain has fallen in Greenbrier County within 12 hours of June 23, while Richwood in Nicholas Country was expected to receive up to 152 mm (6 inches) of rain through 21:00 EDT.
Houses were washed away as severe flooding swept through the city of White Sulphur Springs in Greenbrier County. Residents shared videos showing them taking shelter on roofs as flood waters raged. The flooding also hit the famous Greenbrier golf resort.
The town of Clendenin in Kanawha County, along the Elk River, experienced its worst flooding in almost 20 years and can only be accessed by helicopter, meteorologist Bryan Huges reported.
JACKSON COUNTY, W.Va. — A young boy was swept away by the powerful flood waters that tore through Jackson County, West Virginia, amid heavy rainfall Thursday.
Toddler swept away amid dangerous flash floods in West Virginia (Videos)
http://myfox8.com/2016/06/23/toddler-swept-away-amid-dangerous-flash-floods-in-west-virginia/
Search parties used rowboats to navigate the inundated streets as they searched for the toddler, believed to be between 2 and 4 years old, according to ABC News.
The boy was playing along Utah Road when the fast-moving water swept him away around 4:25 p.m., according to the director of 911 and emergency management, Walter Smittle. Several fire departments looked for the child until it became too dark to continue. The search will resume in the morning, according to officials.
In a separate incident in Wheeling, West Virginia, an 8-year-old boy died after he slipped into the rushing flood waters while walking with his sister. His body was found roughly three hours later; he was pronounced dead at an area hospital.
The dangerous weather prompted Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin to issue a state of emergency for 44 counties amid flash flood warnings and the threat of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms.
Powerful video taken in White Sulphur Springs shows a house completely engulfed by flames, floating down Howard Creek:
The Greenbrier Classic course is also flooded, along with parts of the historic Greenbrier Resort.
A severe weather outbreak is currently in progress from the US Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic. After ripping through Illinois on June 22 and 23, strong storms will continue impacting portions of the Midwest and Ohio River Valley before quickly spreading towards the Mid-Atlantic. On Thursday, June 23, the primary threat with these storms will be damaging winds, but large hail and even an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out.
Severe weather outbreak from US Midwest to Mid-Atlantic, powerful storms sweep through Illinois
http://thewatchers.adorraeli.com/2016/06/23/severe-weather-outbreak-from-us-midwest-to-mid-atlantic-powerful-storms-sweep-through-illinois/ (Videos)
Two rounds of storms have hit the US Midwest on Wednesday, June 22, 2016, bringing strong winds, large hail, and tornadoes. Hail the size of golf balls was reported in North Dakoda before the storms moved into Chicago area, canceling 140 flights around 12:00 CTD. By the end of the day, more than 400 flights were canceled.
Storm chaser Scott Peake was driving near a tornado in the town of Earlville, Illinois when the twister whipped some debris back into his windshield, CBS Chicago reports. The event was captured on one of his cameras:
Around 01:30 UTC on June 23 (20:30 CDT, June 22), a large cone tornado moved into the town of Pontiac, Illinois. Power flashes were reported before much of the town lost power. Storm chasers reported mobile homes destroyed at a trailer park. The Weather Channel said it is unknown, at this time, if there were any injuries, but people were reportedly trapped. Fire officials reported a gas station canopy fell onto a semi truck near Interstate 55.
