Flooding at Biblical Proportions, Moderate Risk Today...

Flooding in Iowa has reached nearly Biblical proportions and people are praying that the waters go away and soon. Some floodwaters are receding in Cedar Rapids after swamping 1,300 city blocks, forcing 24,000 evacuations and nearly crippling the water supply for the state's second largest city. But as the Cedar retreated, waters in Iowa City had already invaded parts of the University of Iowa campus and weren't expected to crest until sometime Monday or Tuesday. At least three deaths in Iowa have been attributed to the storms and subsequent flooding, and 12 more have died in two recent tornadoes. The storms have prompted the governor to issue disaster proclamations for 83 of the state's 99 counties. "This is our version of Katrina," said Johnson County Emergency Management spokesman Mike Sullivan. "This is the worst flooding we've ever seen." In the near future, flooding in St. Louis still is not expected to be as severe as 1993 when the river reached 49.58 feet and water was halfway up the steps of the St. Louis Gateway Arch. Midwest flooding that year killed 48 people and caused $21.0 billion in damage.

Closer to Home, I awoke to a moderate Risk over the Northern Part of Ohio. I went to bed last night at 1:00 a.m. and we had no indication of the pending risk. Northern Ohio, Indiana, and Southern MI are under a 5% tornado Risk today. I have talked with my MESO chase partner Chris Howell already this morning and we are ready to meet up and possibly chase today if things break out.