Deadly storms and floods hit Southern states hard

Daily Report February 16,2025

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Severe weather conditions wreaked havoc across multiple southern states on Saturday, resulting in at least one fatality and leaving millions of residents bracing for more dangerous conditions.

The combination of Winter Storm Jett and intense rainfall created treacherous conditions across Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Virginia, with weather alerts affecting more than 128 million people. The National Weather Service characterized the situation as a “major, potentially historic, flash flood event.”

In a tragic incident in Clay County, Kentucky, floodwaters claimed the life of a 73-year-old man. The victim, whose identity has not been released, was overcome by rushing water on Highway 80 after abandoning his vehicle that had already been impacted by the severe weather.

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Taking preemptive action, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency, with forecasts indicating continued flash flooding throughout Sunday.

“We want everyone to be careful. The amount of rain coming down will make it hard to drive, and flash flooding, especially across our roads, can create dangerous conditions,” Beshear said in a statement, adding, “And remember, don’t drive through standing water, it can have a current, and it is incredibly dangerous.”

According to Fox Weather, Kentucky faces the prospect of receiving between 5 to 8 inches of rainfall as the weather system continues its development over the coming days.

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The severe weather system also impacted Virginia and West Virginia, transforming roadways into waterways. In response, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey enacted emergency measures across 10 southern counties, while Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin activated the state’s National Guard for assistance.

The situation’s severity was further emphasized when NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center issued its highest-level flash flood threat rating of “extreme” for northwestern Tennessee and southwestern Kentucky regions.