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Rivers begin to recede in Missouri and Illinois as record flooding persists Rivers begin to recede in Missouri and Illinois as record flooding persists
(about 3 hours later)
Overflowing rivers were receding in Missouri and Illinois on Friday after flooding swamped communities and forced towns to evacuate, with forecasters warning that rain-swollen waterways flowing downstream could menace southern states. Overflowing rivers receded in Missouri and Illinois on Friday after flooding swamped communities and forced towns to evacuate, but forecasters warned rain-swollen waterways could menace southern states downstream.
At least 28 people have died in the midwest since the weekend in rare winter floods, mostly when driving into flooded areas after storms dropped up to 12in (30 cm) of rain, officials said. Flooding in the midwest usually comes in the spring as snowmelt swells rivers. Rare winter floods have killed at least 28 people in the Midwest since last weekend, most of them when they drove into flooded areas after days of downpours. Midwest floods typically occur in the spring as snowmelt swells rivers.
Dozens died in US storms that were part of a wild worldwide weather system over the Christmas holiday period which has also brought heavy floods and storms to Britain. Dozens have died in storms which also brought unusual winter tornadoes and were part of a wild worldwide weather system over the Christmas holiday period that also saw severe flooding in Britain.
More than 100,000 people have had to evacuate from their homes in areas bordering Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina due to severe flooding in the wake of heavy summer rains brought on by El Niño, authorities said last week. More than 100,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes in areas bordering Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina after floods due to heavy summer rains caused by El Niño, authorities have said.
Weather is dominating conversation on social media over the holiday season after the international climate deal in Paris. Weather is dominating conversation on social media over the holiday season after the international climate deal in Paris. Particularly hard hit in the US in recent days has been Missouri, which has suffered historic flooding.
Close to St Louis on Friday, the water level on the Mississippi River, the second-longest river in the US, was falling on Friday after reaching near-record heights, the National Weather Service said. Close to St Louis on Friday, the Mississippi River, the second-longest river in the US, was falling after reaching near-record heights, the National Weather Service (NWS) said.
The Meramec River, which meanders near St Louis and empties into the Mississippi River, broke height records on Thursday, sending a deluge of water over its banks and forcing the closure of two major interstate highways. The Meramec River, which meanders near St Louis and empties into the Mississippi River, broke height records on Thursday, sending a deluge of water over its banks and forcing the closure of two major highways.
Interstate 55 reopened early on Friday, but Interstate 44 remained closed like many other roads in the St Louis area, state officials said, causing extreme traffic congestion.
Thousands of people evacuated from their homes earlier in the week were waiting to return to their communities and begin the process of cleaning up. Hundreds of structures have been damaged or destroyed, local officials said.Thousands of people evacuated from their homes earlier in the week were waiting to return to their communities and begin the process of cleaning up. Hundreds of structures have been damaged or destroyed, local officials said.
Towns farther down the Mississippi hoped their levees would resist rising river levels. Southern states such as Louisiana and Mississippi will be affected in coming days, the National Weather Service said. The Mississippi River is expected to crest at Thebes, in southern Illinois, at 47.5ft on Sunday, more than 1-1/2 feet above the 1995 record, the NWS forecast.
The Mississippi is expected to crest in the small town of Thebes, in southern Illinois, at 47.5ft (14 metres) on Sunday, more than 1.5ft above the 1995 record, the NWS said. Towns farther down the Mississippi hoped their levees would take the strain.
Workers in Tennessee were preparing for the Mississippi River in Memphis to reach flood stage over the weekend. Southern states including Louisiana and Mississippi are expected to be affected in the coming days, the NWS said. Workers in Tennessee were preparing for the Mississippi River in Memphis to reach flood stage over the weekend.
“We’re moving things up high and we’ve got our generators out and got some extra water,” said Dotty Kirkendoll, a clerk at Riverside Park Marina on McKellar Lake, which feeds off the Mississippi River.“We’re moving things up high and we’ve got our generators out and got some extra water,” said Dotty Kirkendoll, a clerk at Riverside Park Marina on McKellar Lake, which feeds off the Mississippi River.
Major flooding was also occurring on the Arkansas River and its tributaries in that state, the NWS said. Flood warnings were also in effect on Friday for parts of Texas, South Carolina, Alabama and Kentucky, the NWS said, while major flooding was occurring on the Arkansas River and its tributaries in that state.
Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency to prepare for flooding.Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency to prepare for flooding.
“All that water’s coming south and we have to be ready for it,” Lieutenant Governor-elect Billy Nungesser told CNN. “It’s a serious concern. It’s early in the season. We usually don’t see this until much later.” “All that water’s coming south and we have to be ready for it,” Lieutenant Governor-Elect Billy Nungesser told CNN. “It’s a serious concern. It’s early in the season. We usually don’t see this until much later.”