Just one hour of heavy rain was enough to turn streets into rivers and homes into traps. In Texas and West Virginia, sudden flash floods claimed at least 18 lives during a weekend marked by chaos and fear. Several people are still missing, and rescue operations are ongoing.
Local authorities declared a state of emergency and mobilized the National Guard to support the rescue efforts. The San Antonio Fire Department in Texas confirmed the death toll, emphasizing that the event was triggered by exceptional rainfall that hit the area in recent days.
According to the National Weather Service, the U.S. national meteorological agency, approximately 6.1 inches of rain fell in 24 hours nearly 4 inches of which were concentrated in just one hour setting a record for the region and prompting over 70 emergency rescue operations.
Mack Morris, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, explained that Texas had just emerged from a prolonged drought, and an event of this magnitude had not occurred for years. He added that the flash floods recorded were among the most significant in the past five years.
But the severe weather also struck hard in the Appalachians, where missing persons have also been reported. Governor Patrick Morrisey declared a state of emergency for several counties.
On Sunday, a new storm system caused the partial collapse of a residential building in Marion County, West Virginia. In an official statement released in the evening, the governor urged residents to avoid travel and warned not to underestimate the power and speed of the storms.
Meanwhile, new weather alerts have been issued across various parts of the country. Severe thunderstorms are expected in Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas, with large hail and wind gusts exceeding 75 mph for hour. Several states across the Great Plains are also bracing for intense downpour.
