Dangerous flash flooding inundated parts of Kentucky on Saturday, leading to multiple water rescues, evacuations, and a statewide State of Emergency declared by Gov. Andy Beshear.
One motorist was killed after being swept away by floodwaters, Gov. Beshear announced, describing conditions as "much more severe than most would have thought."
Flash Flood Emergencies, indicating life-threatening conditions, were issued for several areas, including Jackson County and parts of Madison County. Emergency crews responded to numerous calls as rapidly rising floodwaters overwhelmed roads and low-lying areas. Photos from the Richmond Police Department showed submerged roads and ongoing rescue operations.
Local states of emergency have been declared in Bullitt, Madison, Meade, Mercer, and Spencer counties. In Bullitt County, an urgent evacuation order was issued for a portion of Lebanon Junction due to a reported "moderate" dam failure.
Across the Ohio Valley, 3 to 5 inches of rain have fallen in many areas, with higher localized amounts contributing to severe flooding. The National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center had issued a Level 2 out of 4 risk for flash flooding in parts of the Ohio Valley.
The threat of widespread flash flooding is expected to diminish by Sunday morning as most Flash Flood Warnings are set to expire. However, scattered showers and thunderstorms are anticipated to continue across central and south-central Kentucky through Sunday afternoon, with the potential for isolated flooding issues.
Farther east, the storm system was also expected to bring showers and thunderstorms to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions before drier air moves into the Ohio Valley by late Sunday. Earlier in the week, heavy downpours and severe storms impacted the Northeast along the Interstate 95 corridor, causing delays and early closures for events.
Looking ahead, a heat dome is forecast to develop over much of the Central and Eastern United States by midweek, bringing temperatures into the 90s ahead of the July 4th holiday.