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Historic rainfall event hits St. Louis, leaving homes and highways submerged, U.S.

st louis flood july 26 2022

Historic levels of rainfall fell over St. Louis, Missouri overnight Tuesday, July 26, 2022, causing widespread flash flooding.

In the first 7 hours of the day, St. Louis recorded 204.7 mm (8.06 inches) of rainfall, breaking the previous all-time daily rainfall record from August 20, 1915, of 173.9 mm (6.85 inches) brought by remnants of the Galveston 1915 Hurricane.

Some storm rainfall totals have reached 152 – 254 mm (6 – 10 inches), according to the National Weather Service, with rainfall rates of 25 – 75 mm (1 – 3 inches) per hour. Isolated rainfall rates up to 125 mm (5 inches) per hour were also reported.

YouTube video
YouTube video

“This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW!” the National Weather Service wrote in the Flash Flood Emergency issued for St. Louis through 09:30 LT today.

Along Hermitage Avenue, St. Louis firefighters rescued 6 people and 6 dogs from 18 homes in the neighborhood that has experienced “substantial flooding.” Another 15 are riding out the storm, Fox Weather reported.1

In western St. Louis, law enforcement officials reported water was encroaching on homes in the Ladue area, with water rescues underway. Spotters reported several cars were stranded along Lindbergh Boulevard just north of Interstate 64.  More cars were stranded by floodwaters in the Maryland Heights neighborhood.

St. Louis Fire crews were using small boats to rescue drivers trapped along Skinker Parkway, where several vehicles were submerged. 

Both Fee Fee Creek and Deer Creek have exceeded major flood stage, the NWS reported.

“Most of the flooding reports have been from St. Louis proper and areas northwest of there,” weather.com senior meteorologist Chris Dolce said.2

There was one report of up to 279.4 mm (11 inches).

“The worst of it seems to be over. There’ll be some moderate rainfall rates and some possibly heavy locally through mid-morning before it really tapers off,“ Dolce said. “Of course, we’ve still got flooding ongoing.”

The rainfall is moving east, so people in its track need to remain vigilant.

References:

1 Flash Flood Emergency underway in St. Louis amid ‘historic’ rainfall event – Fox Weather – July 26, 2022

2 St. Louis Flood Emergency Live Updates: Cars Stranded, Rescues Ongoing – TWC – July 26, 2022

Featured image credit: KMebus

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