Midwest Faces Continued Flood Threat After Record Indiana Rainfall
About 36 million people across the Midwest were under flood alerts Thursday as neighborhoods remained submerged and forecasters warned of more severe storms after record rainfall in eastern Indiana.[1]
New Castle, Indiana, received more than 11 inches of rain in just over a day, a 1-in-1,000-year rainfall event that helped trigger catastrophic flooding and boat rescues in nearby communities. Around 250,000 customers in Indiana and Illinois were without power Thursday morning, and a section of Interstate 70 was partly shut after buckling under the pounding rain.
Since Monday, August 10, 2026, 277 flash flooding incidents have been reported across the Ohio Valley and seven flash flood emergencies were declared. The volume of rain overwhelmed rivers and storm drains, producing rapid rises in water that trapped vehicles and flooded basements across multiple towns.
Rescue crews used boats to reach stranded residents as communities braced for additional storms and rising water, and officials urged people to avoid flooded roads and follow local emergency guidance.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Thursday, August 13, 2026, about 36 million people across the Midwest were under flood alerts, according to the National Weather Service.
- Since Monday, August 10, 2026, 277 flash flooding incidents have been reported across the Ohio Valley and seven flash flood emergencies declared.
- New Castle, Indiana, received more than 11 inches of rain in just over a day, a 1-in-1,000-year rainfall event that helped trigger catastrophic flooding and boat rescues in nearby communities.
- Around 250,000 customers in Indiana and Illinois were without power Thursday morning due to the storms, and a section of Interstate 70 was partly shut after buckling under the pounding rain.
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