Storms Dump Heavy Rains in Parts of Indiana

Police and emergency workers were deluged with reports of flash floods in many parts of northeastern Indiana recently. Downtown Fort Wayne experienced street flooding in many locations with prompted police to issue warnings asking those living in the area to be cautious when traveling on area streets and roads when out driving. Motorists were also warned not to attempt to drive through flood water, even if it appears to be shallow. Sand bags were being made available to homeowners who live in high risk areas.

In Indianapolis and the surrounding area, over 7,000 customers were without power early this weekend after a string of heavy storms moved through the area. There were a total of seven severe storm warnings issued in the city and surrounding counties as storms kicked up 70 mile per hour winds Saturday evening. The driving winds picked up tree limbs and blew them into some homes in Morgan County and blown down trees knocked out power there.

The storm system which is moving through southern Indiana this weekend dumped as much as three inches of rain in the area by Saturday which prompted flash flood watches to be put into effect for low-lying or flood-prone areas. Flash flooding caused by slow moving thunderstorms is a common summertime hazard, transforming calm streams into raging rivers and normally dry, low lying areas into lakes in just a matter of a few short hours. The storm system that caused the deadly flash flooding in Arkansas and Texas earlier this week is what is causing the threat of flash floods in portions of the Ohio Valley as well as the mid-Atlantic region through the weekend.

These storms have the potential for producing a lot of rain very quickly and it surge in moisture poses a danger. The addition of more water to rivers can cause floods in those areas downstream, even where heavy rainfall did not occur. People all across Indiana area being warned to keep an ear on the weather reports – especially if spending the weekend outdoors in remote areas such as campgrounds as often time the heaviest rainfall often strikes overnight, which could trigger flash flooding.

Indiana has been fortunate so far this year when it comes to flooding although there is more rain on its way over the weekend. The Wabash River levels are higher than other rivers in the state but still short of flood stage. Heavy rain is expected but forecasters do not know how much will fall or where. Just two years ago, south central and western Indiana suffered one of the most damaging floods the Hoosier State has ever experienced. Three Indiana residents lost their lives to the storm that dumped nearly 11 inches in just seven hours.