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At least six individuals have perished, including a 3-year-old child, following a massive sudden flood that struck the western area. Virginia .
The storm struck Ohio In County, Saturday night witnessed an astounding downpour with four inches of rainfall occurring within merely half an hour, instantly entrapping inhabitants inside their vehicles and houses as soon as the tempest commenced.
The flooding persisted until Sunday in Ohio County as Wheeling Creek surged by seven feet within just two hours.
Locals documented the destruction brought about by the floods as they transformed whole streets into swift-flowing streams and led to the collapse of nearby apartments.
According to officials from the Wheeling-Ohio County Emergency Management, at least two individuals remain unaccounted for.
The governor of West Virginia, Patrick Morrisey, stated: "Our primary focus at present is search and rescue operations. Several individuals remain missing. Please avoid using the roads to allow emergency teams to operate efficiently and securely."
Chad Merrill, a meteorologist from AccuWeather, informed Axofaon on Monday that the region might experience additional flooding over the coming days.
The weather system responsible for the uncontrolled flooding in Ohio County remains stationary above the area and is anticipated to stay intact until at least Thursday.
Merrill also mentioned that the rapidly occurring flood was a 'distinctive occurrence' caused by an unusual combination of meteorological factors and unfavorable weather conditions.
Regarding why West Virginians were taken aback by the sudden floodwaters, Merrill disclosed that "although the event had been predicted, the intensity wasn’t accurately anticipated."
In March, we experienced an unusually intense final warming event in the stratosphere which caused the seasonal breakdown of the polar vortex, leading to subsequent impacts that rippled through the atmosphere. experienced throughout the US due to these unusual climate patterns ,' Merrill explained.
The senior meteorologist at AccuWeather pointed out that starting next week, "arid conditions and hazardous temperatures will make a comeback in the Eastern region."
Facebook has even sent an urgent notification to residents in West Virginia And nearby Ohio, requesting individuals in the flood-affected area to indicate their safety online if they are out of harm’s way.
Merrill also mentioned that the consistently lower temperatures several regions have faced until June might subside once this new weather system progresses.
During the weekend, cars were carried away by the overflowing creeks, and some individuals climbed up trees for safety. There was also a report of a mobile home bursting into flames.
Close-by Fairmont had extreme flooding on Sunday afternoon, leading to the destruction of an apartment complex and necessitating the evacuation of the inhabitants.
Approximately 2,500 instances of power failures were reported in northern West Virginia on Sunday.
Regarding the catastrophic flash flood that inundated Wheeling within half an hour, the meteorologist explained how every necessary condition aligned perfectly to create such heavy rainfall.
Initially, the quantity of moisture in the air over West Virginia stood at 170 percent higher than usual levels, indicating it contained almost twice as much as the typical amount for mid-June.
Even though meteorologists predicted approximately 1.8 inches of rainfall in the air, two significant elements completely skewed this estimate.
One was a low-pressure system moving through West Virginia. This intensified the upward movement of air and enhanced the lifting effect as air rose over the hills in northern West Virginia.
These circumstances enabled the atmosphere to extract an additional amount of moisture, surpassing what meteorologists had forecast prior to the onset of the storm.
Morrissey has announced a state of emergency in Ohio and Marion counties after emergency responders conducted 19 swiftwater rescue operations due to flash flooding.
Merrill cautioned that despite the approaching summer warmth, West Virginia still has challenges ahead.
The low-pressure system that worsened the flooding over the weekend continues to linger above the state.
"It will serve as the main issue for further flooding concerns until the cycle eventually ends after a cold front moves through on Thursday," Merrill predicted.
Merrill advised Americans to relocate to elevated areas once the rainfall starts, as a precaution against sudden flooding.
If you’re behind the wheel and come across a road covered with floodwater, avoid driving into it. The weather expert cautioned that the depth of the water is often greater than it seems, potentially trapping you if your vehicle stops or gets carried off by increasing floodwaters.
In this scenario, the most effective action would be to backtrack and try to locate another path.
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