- Currently on Earth
- Posts
- Currently — July 29th, 2022
Currently — July 29th, 2022
What you need to know, currently.
Days of downpours have sparked major flooding from Colorado to Kentucky.
In the central Appalachians of eastern Kentucky, horrific flooding has washed away homes and triggered helicopter rescues. More than 8 inches of rain has fallen, carving rivers through rural towns and prompting Kentucky Gov. Beshear to declare a state of emergency. In a stable climate, eastern Kentucky can expect to receive that much rain in 24 hours only once in a thousand years.
Of course, the climate is no longer stable.
This is just a look at some of the damage here in Breathitt County. I know water rescue crews are working to get people out of flooded mobile homes right now. A temporary shelter is set up inside the Breathitt County Courthouse pic.twitter.com/8acqBvJJxv— Jim Stratman (@JimSNews) July 28, 2022
Rising waters trap people in Eastern KY; one death confirmed in Perry County: https://t.co/7fXD8U25q6 via @heraldleader @HLpublicsafety pic.twitter.com/vj935k9ERK— Ryan C. Hermens (@ryanhermens) July 28, 2022
A stalled frontal boundary is focusing a surge of moisture from the abnormally warm Gulf of Mexico across a narrow strip running across most of the continent. Earlier this week, St. Louis received its rainiest day in history — more than 8 inches in just 7 hours — another 1-in-1000 year rainstorm.
The forecast for Appalachia continues to be dire with at least two to three more days of rain expected. Meanwhile, heavy rains in Colorado over recent wildfire burn scars have also triggered flash flooding, and St. Louis received even more rain on Thursday.
Southerly has a thread with mutual aid links in Kentucky and local reporting on how climate change fueled extreme weather is impacting Appalachia.
-Eric Holthaus