Severe storms have led to at least 18 deaths across the southern and midwestern United States following days of intense rain and wind.

As rivers rose and flooding worsened on Sunday, impacted communities faced significant challenges, with utility companies working to shut off power and gas from Texas to Ohio.

Cities have implemented measures such as road closures and sandbagging to protect homes and businesses.

In Frankfort, Kentucky, the state capital, significant flooding was reported.

Wendy Quire, general manager of a local restaurant, described the situation as unprecedented in her 52 years of life.

Officials in Kentucky announced road closures and utility shutoffs as the Kentucky River continued to swell, with Quire noting, "The rain just won’t stop.

It’s been nonstop for days and days."

The ongoing global climate situation has been linked to increased rainfall and heightened flood risks across various regions of the US. Observations from Climate Central indicated that the upper midwest and Ohio River Valley are particularly affected.

Weather forecasts suggest that flooding risks might continue for several days due to persistent heavy rainfall across states such as Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama, with tornado threats also expected in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.

Of the reported fatalities, 10 occurred in Tennessee.

A nine-year-old boy in Kentucky tragically lost his life while trying to catch a school bus amid rising floodwaters.

In Arkansas, a five-year-old boy was killed when a tree fell on his home, while a 16-year-old volunteer firefighter in Missouri died in a vehicle crash while attempting to rescue individuals caught in turbulent conditions.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued warnings for several states, anticipating many locations could reach "major flood stage," with widespread flooding impacting buildings, roads, and other vital infrastructure.

Flight cancellations and delays have also been affected, with 521 domestic and international flights cancelled and over 6,400 delayed on Saturday, as reported by FlightAware.com.

The storms have raised concerns regarding the impact of workforce reductions at NWS forecast offices, which have seen vacancy rates as high as 20%—double the levels of a decade ago—since cuts were made during Donald Trump’s administration.

Authorities issued flash flooding and tornado warnings across several states over the weekend, including Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky, with a flood watch extended to all of eastern Kentucky.

In north-central Kentucky, emergency officials mandated evacuation orders for towns like Falmouth and Butler, which are situated near the rapidly rising Licking River.

The river has a history of severe flooding, with a record height of 50 feet (15 meters) reached 30 years ago, resulting in five fatalities and significant property destruction.

Rainfall totals have been staggering, with Jonesboro, Arkansas, recording 5.06 inches (nearly 13 cm) on Saturday, marking the wettest day in April since records began in 1893. Memphis has received 14 inches (35 cm) since the onset of the rain on Wednesday, with West Memphis, Arkansas, reporting 10 inches (25 cm).

Forecasters attribute this severe weather phenomenon to warm temperatures, unstable atmospheric conditions, strong winds, and substantial moisture influx from the Gulf of Mexico.

In Dyersburg, Tennessee, many residents sought shelter due to the severe conditions, with individuals bringing necessities like blankets and medications to storm shelters.

George Manns, 77, shared his experience of seeking refuge after hearing tornado warnings, underscoring the urgency felt by those affected by the storms.