Severe storms knock out power and force cancellations of major sporting events in US midwest

Heavy rains across the US Midwest on Sunday caused flash flooding in large areas that cut power to thousands of households in southeast Wisconsin, according to emergency officials.

The flash flooding affected half a dozen Midwest states, including the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, forcing motorists to abandon their vehicles and necessitating multiple water rescues, authorities said.

Organisers of the Wisconsin State Fair said they were scrapping the final day of the 11-day event after rains flooded the fairgrounds in West Allis, which is just outside Milwaukee.

“We are saddened we cannot deliver this final day of the Wisconsin State Fair, but know that this is the best decision with current conditions and the forecast ahead,” organisers said in a statement.

The US National Weather Service issued flood watches and warnings for parts of Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

Nearly 18,000 people in Wisconsin without power

Following heavy rainfall, which started on Saturday in some regions, forecasters predicted “repeated rounds of heavy rain,” along with hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes into Monday.

According to the National Weather Service, among the worst hit was the Milwaukee area, where up to 36 centimetres of rain had fallen in some areas by Sunday, which also noted river flooding in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties.

Some motorists left their stranded cars on the roads. Nearly 18,000 customers of We Energies in southeast Wisconsin were without power late Sunday. In the suburban village of Wauwatosa, an overflowing and fast-moving Menomonee River submerged a popular playground.

Firefighters said they responded to over 600 calls, including for gas leaks, flooded basements, electrical outages and water rescues, according to the Milwaukee Fire Department.

And while crews worked to clear surface water, the Red Cross opened two shelters in the city for displaced residents.

“We’re still in the middle of it,” Fire Chief Aaron Lipski told reporters Sunday. “We’re still catching up right now.”

Sprint and Paratriathlon National Championships cancelled

In Milwaukee, USA Triathlon cancelled the Sprint and Paratriathlon National Championships, which were anticipated to draw thousands of competitors. Even though American Family Field's parking lot was still closed to cars, the Brewers and Mets still played there.

“We will not be able to guarantee parking for all fans, even those who purchased parking in advance,” the Brewers said in a statement before the game.

City officials warned residents to avoid driving or walking in the standing waters. “It remains dangerous,” the City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works said in a statement.

Tropical Storm Henriette expected but no threat

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Henriette rapidly strengthened into a hurricane Sunday in the central Pacific Ocean with further strengthening expected, but it poses no threat to land, the National Hurricane Center said.

The Miami-based centre said the storm was located about 720 kilometres north-northeast of Hilo, Hawaii, with maximum sustained winds of 130 kph

It was moving northwest at 28 kph on a course that’s expected to take it well north of the Hawaiian Islands over the next few days. The storm was expected to strengthen through Monday, followed by weakening on Tuesday.

It comes as extreme weather continues across the US, with more than 30 million people on notice for deadly heat this weekend, and several regions of the country already dealing with significant heat and fire weather concerns.

The majority of the West, including Phoenix, Arizona, and Palm Springs, California, is still under extreme heat warnings, with temperatures predicted to soar over the 45-degree Celsius mark.