Record-setting rains in Wisconsin led to life-threatening flash flooding in Milwaukee and the surrounding area overnight Saturday to Sunday, prompting widespread flood alerts and the early closure of the Wisconsin State Fair.
The Milwaukee area received 7.96 inches of rain from Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning, setting a record for a two-day rainfall total in the Milwaukee area, according to the National Weather Service.
More heavy rain was still to come on Sunday, forecasters said, and flood warnings remained in effect across Wisconsin.
At the Wisconsin State Fair in West Allis, Wis., organizers canceled an appearance by the band Lynyrd Skynyrd on Saturday night because of severe weather and closed the fairgrounds early.
Videos posted on social media and on local news sites showed cars at the fairgrounds partly submerged on Saturday night. The fair will remain closed on Sunday, officials said, the final day of its 11-day run.
In a statement, the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management said on Sunday that it had not yet been able to tally all of its calls for service or to compile a complete damage assessment.
There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries connected to the flooding.
Widespread power outages, flooding and road closures affected at least 19 municipalities across the county, Cassandra Libal, the agency director, said in an email.
Reports of water rescues and stranded motorists began overnight on Saturday as creeks overflowed, with many spilling across roadways. Communities across the state braced for more rain through the weekend.
The continued rain will exacerbate “the ongoing flooding, and prolongs the standing water on roads,” Sarah Marquardt, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Milwaukee, said on Sunday.
The heaviest rainfall came on Saturday, Ms. Marquardt said, but periods of rain will continue through Sunday and Monday.
Ali Watkins covers international news for The Times and is based in Belfast.
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