 Rainfall totals throughout the Midwest from July 25–31 | |
| Date | July 24–August 27, 2022 |
|---|---|
| Location | Greater St. Louis, CentralAppalachia,Southern and Southwestern United States |
| Deaths | 44 deaths (Kentucky: 38 direct, 2 indirect; Missouri: 2; Texas: 1; Utah: 1)[1][2][3][4][5] |
| Property damage | $1.2 billion (Kentucky and Missouri only)[6] |
Beginning on July 24, 2022, and lasting for a week, manyflash flooding events hit several areas of the United States. These areas included parts ofMissouri andIllinois, especiallyGreater St. Louis,Eastern Kentucky,Southwest Virginia, parts ofWest Virginia, and theLas Vegas Valley. Several rounds of severe thunderstorms began in Missouri on July 24, culminating during July 25 and 26, whenSt. Louis broke its previous 1915 record for the most rainfall in a span of 24 hours.[7] GovernorMike Parson declared astate of emergency on July 26. Over one hundred people were rescued from floods, and two people were killed.[3][8] Late on July 27 and into July 28, historic flooding began in centralAppalachia, particularly inKentucky, where astate of emergency was declared.[9] A total of 38 people were killed in Kentucky as a direct result of flooding, with a 39th fatality occurring days later during cleanup efforts and a 40th coming in September during cleanup efforts inPike County.[2][10][11][12][13][14]
Late July 28, another unprecedented flash flooding event occurred inLas Vegas after parts of the city saw over an inch of rainfall. Much of theLas Vegas Strip became inundated, with roads, casinos, and parking garages being affected and flights being delayed or cancelled.[15][16] More flooding continued from July 30 to August 1 inArizona, includingPhoenix andFlagstaff, California, includingDeath Valley National Park, and again in the same areas of Eastern Kentucky. In all, 41 people were killed during the flooding events: 39 in Kentucky on July 28 and 2 in Missouri on July 26.[2][3]
More flooding events continued throughout August, impacting areas such asDeath Valley, theDallas–Fort Worth metroplex, and centralMississippi. A flash flood inZion National Park inUtah led to one fatality.[4] The Dallas flooding on August 22 led to an additional fatality and four injuries.[5]
On the morning of July 26, theWeather Prediction Center (WPC) issued a moderate risk outlook for excessive rainfall over portions of easternMissouri and southernIllinois andIndiana associated with an expected band oftraining thunderstorms over the region.[17][18] Later, theNational Weather Service issued its first-ever flash flood emergencies for Saint Louis.[19] By the end of July 26,St. Peters, Missouri recorded a total of 12.8 inches (325.1 mm) of rainfall,[20] while other areas ofSt. Charles County received over 11 inches (280 mm). Other parts ofGreater St. Louis totaled as much as 10 inches (250 mm) of rain. Additionally, more than 6 inches (150 mm) of rain fell in the town ofMexico in central Missouri, with similar rainfall totals being reported in southern Illinois.[21] Parts of Kentucky and West Virginia were affected by flooding on July 26 as well, includingJohnson,Magoffin, andFloyd counties in Kentucky andMingo andMcDowell counties in West Virginia.[22]
Training thunderstorms began to form overEastern Kentucky during the early hours of July 27, producing heavy rainfall periodically throughout the day.Jackson, Kentucky had its second-wettest day on record (since 1981), with 4.11 inches (104.4 mm) of rain falling.[18] During the late evening and overnight hours, a more substantial band of heavy rain and thunderstorms moved west to east along a stalled frontal boundary, resulting in subsequent extreme flooding across the counties ofPerry,Knott,Breathitt,Letcher,Leslie,Clay,Owsley,Wolfe,Harlan, Johnson, Magoffin, Floyd, andPike. Flooding was also reported inSouthwest Virginia, in the areas ofWise andDickenson counties, and the independent city ofNorton, which are along the Kentucky border. On the morning of July 28, the WPC issued a moderate risk outlook for excessive rainfall over portions of Central and Eastern Kentucky and West Virginia.[23][24] The rainfall began to move towardsWest Virginia and central Kentucky the following day, and began to encompass almost all of West Virginia on July 29.[23][24][25] On the morning of July 29, the WPC issued a moderate risk outlook for excessive rainfall, but shifted it into Eastern Kentucky and almost all of West Virginia.[25]
On the morning of July 31, a third moderate risk outlook for excessive rainfall was issued by the WPC over portions of Eastern Kentucky,[26] with more flooding occurring that night over the same areas as four days earlier.
Elsewhere on July 30 and 31,Phoenix andFlagstaff, Arizona, along with rural areas ofArizona and southeast California sustained flooding due to heavy rain associated with theSouthwest monsoon. NearKingman, over 1 inch (25 mm) of rain fell in approximately 15 minutes on July 31, associated with widespread thunderstorm activity over both states and southern Nevada.[27]
More rainfall impacted the same areas of Eastern Kentucky on July 31 and August 1, leading to renewed flooding in those areas, while areas of easternIllinois, such asJasper andRichland counties, picked up as much as 10–12 inches (250–300 mm) of rain from August 1 into August 2.[28][29] On the morning of August 2, the Weather Prediction Center issued a moderate risk of excessive rainfall for parts of southern Illinois and Indiana and parts of western Kentucky.[30]
Also on August 2, centralMississippi, including parts ofMadison,Yazoo,Holmes, andAttala counties, received as much as 8–10 inches (200–250 mm) of rainfall, causing flooding that impacted roads and homes.[31][32]
On the morning of August 7, WPC issued a moderate risk for excessive rainfall across portions of northeasternIowa and southernWisconsin.[33]
30 miles (48 km) ofI-70 were closed because of the floods,[34] with some vehicles completely submerged.[21] TheGateway Arch was closed on July 26 due to the flooding.[35] Flood damage to theMetroLink light rail transit system in St. Louis was estimated at $18–20 million.[36] In St. Peters, ten puppies at an animal rescue shelter died in the flooding.[37] Dardenne Creek in St. Peters rose over 21 feet (6.4 m) into major flood stage over the span of seven hours.[18] The fire department inSt. Louis rescued people from 18 homes, transporting some people and pets out by boat. Homes inBrentwood andLadue were threatened by floodwater as well, with some residents evacuating.[21] Two people were killed in the St. Louis area: one in a car that was found submerged in 8 feet (2.4 m) of water and another nearHazelwood found about a mile away from their abandoned tractor-trailer that had been flooded.[3]
St. Louis set a new 24-hour rainfall record at over 9 inches (230 mm), beating the record of 7 inches (177.8 mm) from the1915 Galveston hurricane.[38] This included 7.08 inches (179.8 mm) in just six hours. Over 20,000 residents lost power.[39]
Flash flooding extended into Illinois along theI-64 corridor inSt. Clair County,[40] and a nursing home was evacuated inCaseyville.[41] InBelleville, which received approximately 8 inches (200 mm) of rain, multiple roadways were closed due to high water, with a section of one street being washed away. Residents were assisted from two houses in town, and city parks sustained damage to parking lots, playgrounds, and bathrooms.Cahokia Heights had 15 to 20 homes with flood damage, along with more flooded streets, and Caseyville had a levee breach, leading to the evacuation of the nursing home. Other areas, such asEast St. Louis andSwansea, had more flooded homes, while more communities escaped with only minor roadway flooding.[42]
Flooding on July 26 impacted parts of southwesternWest Virginia. InMingo County, theGilbert Creek area along the Kentucky/Virginia/West Virginia border had several homes impacted and several bridges washed out, limiting access to some areas.[43][44] More flooding occurred in nearbyMcDowell County as well, in addition to other areas. This, combined with additional rainfall and flooding on July 28, led to a state of emergency being declared by GovernorJim Justice for six counties: Mingo, McDowell,Fayette,Greenbrier,Logan, andWyoming.[45] Partly as a result of the flooding,Huntington, West Virginia recorded their wettest July on record with 9.41 in (239 mm) of rain.[46]
 Radar estimated rainfall in Eastern Kentucky from July 25 to 30, highlighting the counties that received the most rain. | |
| Date | July 26 – August 1 |
|---|---|
| Location | CentralAppalachia (Eastern Kentucky,Southwest Virginia, SouthwestWest Virginia) |
| Deaths | 38 direct deaths (+2 indirect)[2] |
Governor of KentuckyAndy Beshear declared astate of emergency on July 28.[47][48][9][49] after what was described as a thousand-year flooding event.[18] The Kentucky Court of Justice closed the judicial centers inFloyd, Letcher,Magoffin, and Perry counties due to the extreme flooding.[50] The storms dumped up to 10.4 inches (264.2 mm) of rain on parts of the state.[51] Kentucky cities severely affected by the floods includeHazard,Jackson,Paintsville,Prestonsburg,Martin,Pikeville,Hindman,Whitesburg,Fleming-Neon, andJenkins.
Many roads were shut down in these areas including Main Street in Hazard, Mayo Trail in Pikeville,KY 317 in Fleming-Neon, Lakeside Drive and Main Street in Jenkins, South Fork Road, South Mountain Road, Bold Camp Road, and Main Street inPound, Virginia, and portions ofUS 23 inWise, Virginia. Evacuations were ordered in the downtown areas of cities that were severely flooded including Hazard, Fleming-Neon, Jenkins, Martin, Pound, andClintwood, Virginia.[52] TheNorth Fork of the Kentucky River set record high crests in Whitesburg and Jackson,[18] and over 33,000 customers lost electricity.[53]
Late on July 28 and into July 29, part of the city of Jackson was evacuated andKY 15 was closed after officials became concerned that water from the North Fork River would top Panbowl Dam along KY 15 and potentially flood approximately 110 homes, 13 businesses, and other structures around Panbowl Lake, although the river began receding before the dam was overtopped.[54] The North Fork River set a record crest in Jackson of 43.47 feet (13.25 m), besting the previous record of 43.1 feet (13.1 m) from February 4, 1939,[55] while meteorologists at theNational Weather Service forecast office in Jackson became trapped at the office due to nearby high water.[56]
The rainfall observed over the region during the period of July 25–30 was over 600 percent of normal totals. The four-day rainfall totals of 14–16 inches (360–410 mm) in some areas were reported to have a less than a 0.1 percent chance of occurring in any given year.[57]
More rainfall over waterlogged areas led to more flooding on August 1 in Knott and Letcher counties. Downtown areas of Hindman and Fleming-Neon were again inundated by floodwaters in the early hours of August 1.[58] KY 550 was again flooded in Knott County, affecting the communities ofMousie andFisty, along with Hindman.[59] Flooding was also reported in other areas such as Floyd County, Pike County, andHarlan County.[60] Roads in Floyd County were flooded or blocked by downed trees and power lines.[61][62]
As a result of flooding on July 28 and again on August 1, Fleming-Neon was left with its city hall, bank, pharmacy, and post office flooded, with more than a foot of mud covering the inside of the city hall building.[63]
On the night of July 28, another flash flooding event occurred in theLas Vegas Valley in southernNevada.Harry Reid International Airport saw 0.32 inches (8.1 mm) of rainfall in two hours, the monthly average for all of July. A ground stop was issued at the airport.[64] Parts ofClark County saw 0.5–1 inch (13–25 mm) of rain, causing disruptive flash flooding.[65][15] This heavy rain flooded casinos and parking garages along theLas Vegas Strip.[66]
Just one mile away from the airport, theUNLV campus received substantially more rainfall, totaling over 1 inch (25 mm). Casinos on the Strip that were impacted includedCaesars Palace andPlanet Hollywood, with water pouring through parts of the ceilings into the buildings.Las Vegas Boulevard and Main Street, especially in downtown and the area of the Strip, were covered in water, creating traffic problems. Fire departments and first responders had 330 calls for flooding and swift water service, with seven people being rescued from floodwaters.[67]
The seasonal monsoon rains in the area partially contributed to a water rise of 3 inches (76 mm) inLake Mead from July 26 to 31, along with water releases fromLake Powell.[68]
Rain beginning on July 25 in theFlagstaff, Arizona area associated with the monsoon season led to increased flash flooding concerns throughout the week, due in part to the burn scars from therecent wildfires.[69] By July 27, Flagstaff mayor Paul Deasy had declared a state of emergency as numerous areas around Flagstaff had been impacted by flooding, including Mt. Elden Estates, Paradise, Grandview, and Sunnyside. Other neighborhoods such as Cheshire, Coconino Estates, Creighton Estates, Coyote Springs, Anasazi Ridge were later added to the state of emergency order. Schultz Creek overflowed in the area, resulting in the temporary closure ofUS 180 on the west side of Flagstaff.[70]
On July 30, areas on the north side ofPhoenix alongI-17 received 1–2 inches (25–51 mm) of rain, mostly within one hour. This led to flooding of roads and low-lying areas and prompted four water rescues, two of which were from partially submerged vehicles. A voting precinct inDowntown Phoenix was closed by the Maricopa County Elections Department due to flooding in the building, forcing it to be relocated elsewhere within the building for subsequent days. Numerous streets in Phoenix became temporarily flooded due to the heavy rain.[71] Several homes and apartment complexes became flooded as well.[72]
In southern California,Death Valley National Park and theMojave National Preserve were impacted by flooding on July 30 and 31, resulting in numerous road and campground closures and damaged/destroyed vehicles. Heavy rain in theSan Bernardino National Forest resulted in mudslides that blocked roads nearYucaipa.[27]
All roads into Death Valley National Park were closed due to major flash flooding.[73] Rainfall in Death Valley totaled 1.70 inches (43 mm), setting a new (since surpassed) single-day rainfall record;[74] the amount was around 75 percent of the area's annual average precipitation.[75] After the storm, theFederal Highway Administration gave $11.7 million to theNational Park Service to fix roads in the park following the flooding.[76]
Parts of central Illinois received very heavy rainfall from the evening of August 1 into August 2. Numerous counties were impacted by flooding, with flooding reported near the cities ofDecatur,Dawson,Spaulding, andBarclay.[77] In downtown Decatur, numerous roadways were flooded, leaving vehicles submerged.[78] Parts ofJasper andRichland counties received the most rainfall from the event, totaling 8–12 inches (200–300 mm), with rainfall rates reaching 2 inches (51 mm) per hour.[28][29]
Areas nearCanton, Mississippi also received very heavy rainfall on August 2, leading to flash flooding that trapped people in homes inMadison County. Numerous people were rescued by fire department crews from houses and offices after some areas received up to 8 inches (200 mm) of rainfall in a few hours. Roads were closed due to high water, and vehicles were submerged along roadways and in parking lots.[31][32][79]
Parts of Central Mississippi received very heavy rainfall starting on August 24.[80] Flash flood emergencies were declared, and up to 8.89 inches (226 mm) of rain fell.[81] This led to severe effects on water systems near Jackson, leaving many residents without clean drinking water.[82] At one point, the city temporarily ran out of bottled water to give to residents.[83] During the storm, parts ofI-20 closed.[84]
These floods contributed largely toward August 2022 becoming the wettest August on record forMississippi.[85]
One woman was killed when she was swept away in a flash flood inZion National Park. Her body was discovered on August 22 after a search involving over 170 people.[4]
 12-hour rainfall totals for the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex | |
| Date | August 21–22, 2022 |
|---|---|
| Location | NorthTexas, especially theDallas–Fort Worth metroplex |
| Deaths | 1 (4 injuries)[5] |
Starting late on August 21, 2022, and going into the next morning, a significant flash flooding event occurred in theDallas–Fort Worth metroplex inTexas, killing one person and injuring four others.[5] Some parts of the metroplex saw over 10 inches (250 mm) of rain, which is the usual rainfall total for the area during all of summer. Before this rainfall event, 2022 was shaping up to be one of the hottest and driest years ever recorded in Texas.[86] On the morning of August 21, theWeather Prediction Center (WPC) issued a moderate risk for excessive rainfall forNorth andNortheast Texas.[87] On August 22, WPC issued a new moderate risk for excessive rainfall for North and Northeast Texas as well as portions ofNorth Louisiana.[88] At 1:20 am. CDT on August 22, theNational Weather Service issued aflash flood warning for the Dallas metroplex.[89]
Overnight on August 21,Dallas Fort Worth International Airport reported 3.01 inches (76.5 mm) of rainfall over a one-hour timeframe, setting the record for the most rainfall in a single hour ever for the airport.[90] By 8 am. CDT on August 22, parts of theDallas–Fort Worth metroplex had received over 10 inches (250 mm) of rain.[91] The amount of rainfall that Dallas normally sees during all of summer fell within 24 hours,[92][93][94] breaking a record for most rain in 24 hours since 1932[95] and making 2022 the wettest August in Dallas history.[96] This also meant that, despite 67 consecutive days with no measurable precipitation during the summer, Dallas still had their 9th wettest summer on record.[97]
The flooding event caused over 314 car crashes and 319 high water calls. Parts of the Dallas area got up to 15.16 inches (385.1 mm) of rain.[98] Nearly 300 flights were cancelled and 900 were delayed between the two Dallas airports.[99]Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, and 37,000 other customers, lost power.[100] One person was killed and four people were injured in the floods.[101] Certain rivers reached moderate flood stage as they reached over 38 feet (12 m).[102]
Around 10:15 am. CDT on August 22, the storms associated with the flooding event produced an EF1 tornado that impactedSmith County, approximately 100 miles (160 km) east of downtown Dallas. Minimal damage occurred to a school and other structures nearWinona.[103] Due to the floods, drought improved across parts of northern Texas.[104]
St. Louis County declared astate of emergency in the aftermath of flooding in the area.[105] On July 28, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear commented, "We are currently experiencing one of the worst, most devastating flooding events in Kentucky's history."[9] On July 29, PresidentJoe Biden declared that amajor disaster existed in Kentucky and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides.[106] On July 30,Urban Search and Rescue Missouri Task Force 1 was deployed to eastern Kentucky.[107]
On July 29,Illinois governorJ. B. Pritzker declared St. Clair County, including East St. Louis, a disaster area, and the city of East St. Louis later declared a state of emergency following the flooding on July 26.[108]
A shelter was opened on July 28 at the Breathitt County Courthouse in Jackson for displaced residents, as well as other shelters in schools and churches around Perry County and Hazard and the Floyd County Community Center near the town of Martin.[10]Wolfe County, north of Jackson, opened three school buildings as shelters as well.[56] About 150 residents were housed at nearby state parks, while at least another 150 went toAmerican Red Cross shelters. Curfews were established in areas such as Hindman and Breathitt County after reports of looting.[109]
Some residents in Kentucky were stuck in their homes, unable to leave because of washed out roads and bridges, leading to over 420 people being rescued by helicopter or boat.[109] By August 2, more than 5,600 customers in eastern Kentucky were still without power and more than 18,000 service connections were without water. An additional 45,600 customers were under a boil water advisory, according to Governor Beshear. Numerous people remained stranded in rural areas as a result of roads being washed away, with the only access in some instances being byATV. The infrastructure problems caused difficulty in pinpointing the number of missing people in the days after the event.[63]
The office manager of Troublesome Creek Stringed Instrument Company in Hindman set up a GoFundMe account for donations to help with flood relief, while Appalshop and Hindman Settlement School received help to keep valuable media archives refrigerated to prevent ruin. Some archives were transported to a freezer atEast Tennessee State University in the days after the event.[110]
School systems in Perry, Breathitt, and Floyd counties delayed the start of the school year due to recovery efforts. Several classrooms in Breathitt County were destroyed, along with the district's maintenance building and the bus garage.[111] Several other counties in the area had modified starts to the school year as well.[63]
TheUniversity of Kentuckymen's basketball team announced plans to play two games againstGonzaga, in 2022 and 2023, to raise money for Kentucky flood relief.[112]