# Severe weather and flooding in the United States

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/severe-weather-and-flooding-in-the-united-states
> Updated: 2026-08-12T20:46:00.000Z. Sources: 14. Developments: 2.

The United States has experienced a period of intense severe weather characterized by record rainfall and widespread flash flood emergencies.

In late July, the National Weather Service issued 15 flash flood emergencies, including a “1,000-year” rainfall event in the Texas Hill Country. Other significant flooding occurred in West Virginia, Missouri, and a wildfire burn scar in Utah. Analysts noted that rising hourly rainfall intensity across much of the country is linked to human-caused climate warming.

By mid-August, severe weather continued to impact various regions. East-central Indiana faced torrential rains that surpassed record levels from 1913, leading to evacuations and home destruction. Concurrently, windstorms in the Midwest and Ohio Valley caused power outages for over 700,000 customers, resulting in at least one fatality. Additional flash flood warnings were issued for parts of Arizona and southern California, while thunderstorm watches remained active in Nebraska and Iowa.

Recent developments in the Midwest include a deadly derecho and catastrophic rainfall. In eastern Indiana, a “1-in-1000 year” rainfall event triggered flash flood emergencies, forcing evacuations in cities such as Muncie and causing rivers to reach historic levels. These storms have resulted in multiple fatalities, including a four-year-old child killed by a falling tree in Geneva Township, Indiana. Indiana has been particularly hard-hit by power outages, reporting over 267,000 instances. Furthermore, the region has faced tornadic activity, including a confirmed tornado in central Iowa. Meteorologists warn that the threat of severe thunderstorms and additional flooding persists across the Plains, Midwest, and Ohio Valley due to saturated ground.

## Claims

- A four-year-old child was killed by a falling tree in Geneva Township, Indiana. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The National Weather Service issued flash flood watches for portions of Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- A severe thunderstorm watch was issued for parts of east central Nebraska through central Iowa. (single source)
- Flash flood emergencies were issued for east-central Indiana due to catastrophic rainfall. (single source)
- Over 700,000 customers lost power following a deadly windstorm in the Midwest and Ohio Valley. (single source)
- Flooding in Muncie, Indiana, has exceeded the record levels set in 1913. (single source)
- Indiana experienced more than 267,000 power outages due to severe storms. (single source)
- A confirmed tornado was reported moving northeast near Maxwell, Iowa. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-12: Midwest severe weather causes catastrophic flooding and power outages

Severe storms and catastrophic flooding have struck the U.S. Midwest, causing multiple deaths, historic river levels in Indiana, and hundreds of thousands of power outages across the region.

14 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/severe-thunderstorms-and-flash-flooding-impact-southwest-us

### 2026-07-23: US faces surge of flash flood emergencies as July brings record rainfall

The U.S. has issued 15 flash‑flood emergencies in two weeks, including a 1,000‑year rain event in Texas, as climate‑linked rainfall intensity rises nationwide.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-faces-surge-of-flash-flood-emergencies-as-july-brings-record-rainfall

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Cite as: Severe weather and flooding in the United States. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/severe-weather-and-flooding-in-the-united-states