Flash Flooding Hits Kentucky as U.S. Flood Warnings Spread to Alaska and Indiana
Severe weather and climate impacts are occurring worldwide, with flash flooding in Kentucky, ongoing glacier-dammed lake flooding in Alaska, excessive rainfall flooding in Indiana, record-low Danube River levels forcing a Romanian nuclear reactor offline, and forecasts of continued extreme heat in France.
Ongoing Flooding in the United States
Flash flooding is ongoing or expected in Letcher, Kentucky, after 2.5 to 3 inches of rain fell from thunderstorms with up to 0.5 inches more possible. [2] At 913 AM EDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area, with between 2.5 and 3 inches of rain having fallen across the hardest hit areas. [2] Additional rainfall amounts up to 0.5 inches are possible in the warned area, and flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. [2] The hazard involves flash flooding caused by thunderstorms, with impacts including flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, and highways. [2]
Flooding from a glacier-dammed lake outburst continues in Alaska's Mendenhall Lake and River near Juneau. [1] Mendenhall Lake gauge levels, along with USGS imagery from Suicide Basin and water levels within the basin, indicate that the basin is continuing its release of water into Mendenhall Lake and River. [1] Levels on the Mendenhall Lake and River will rise through today as the release continues, with a forecast crest between 16.1 to 16.6 feet expected Thursday between 11am to 3pm. [1] The flooding caused by a glacier-dammed lake outburst continues in the Mendenhall Lake and River near the Men area. [1]
Flooding from excessive rainfall continues in Hamilton County, Indiana, with 1 to 3 inches of recent rain affecting rivers, creeks, and low-lying areas. [5] At 905 AM EDT, river gauge readings show flooding of area creeks and streams continues, and between 1 and 3 inches of rain have fallen recently. [5] The flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues in Hamilton County in central Indiana until 400 PM EDT Thursday. [5] Impacts include flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations that is imminent or occurring, with some locations that will experience flooding including Carmel. [5]
Romania's Nuclear Plant Disrupted by Low Danube Levels
Romania declared a 30-day energy alert after Danube River levels fell to record lows due to severe central European drought, shutting down one nuclear unit at Cernavodă and requiring emergency river works to keep the second unit operating. [4] Romania has placed its energy sector under a nationwide 30-day state of alert after the Danube river levels fell to exceptionally low levels, forcing Unit 1 at the Cernavodă nuclear plant offline and putting Unit 2 under continuous review. [4] Emergency river works have kept Unit 2 online for now, but the latest hydrological outlook says levels around the plant may keep falling through Aug. 16. [4] The Danube is the European Union’s longest river and flows for 2860 km from Germany to the Black Sea, with the river's level having fallen to a record low due to a severe drought in central Europe that has caused energy and water shortages along with problems for river barges and ferries. [4] At Romania's upstream entry point, the Danube was flowing at 1,650 cubic metres per second on July 28, around one-third of the long-term July average of 4,750, and by August 6 the flow had fallen to about 1,400 cubic meters per second, matching the lowest level cited in Romania’s historical records. [4] State-owned nuclear power producer Nuclearelectrica shut Unit 1 down in a controlled manner on July 28 under procedures for severe drought, with the operator stressing that the preventive shutdown had no impact on nuclear safety, plant personnel, or the environment. [4] Cernavodă has two roughly 700-megawatt units that normally provide about 18 to 20% of Romania’s electricity. [4] Danube water supports the systems that remove heat and keep operating parameters inside the approved margins at the plant. [4] Officials estimated that the improved conditions could support Unit 2 for at least nine more days within the period covered by the forecast after authorities blasted a rock obstruction, dredged the riverbed and sank four barges loaded with stone to create an underwater barrier that redirects more of the river's water towards Cernavoda, with the Romanian military using 180 kilograms of explosives during the controlled operation near the Bala Canal. [4] The water level at Cernavodă rose by 4 centimetres in 24 hours even though forecasts had pointed to a drop of about 4 centimetres. [4] Romania's water management agency expects the Danube to remain at an extreme low at the country's entry point, while levels near the plant are forecast to fall until August 16 and additional dredging has been recommended. [4] Nuclearelectrica has repeatedly said Unit 2 may still need to shut down if water levels or operating parameters cross permitted limits. [4] The government allocated money for Danube works and opened talks with Ukraine and other neighbouring countries about electricity imports during peak demand, while households, companies, public institutions and prosumers have been asked to reduce voluntary electricity use from 7 pm to 11 pm through August 31. [4]
France Endures Fifth Heatwave of Summer
France is experiencing its fifth heatwave of the summer, which one weather channel predicts could be the last period of extreme heat in the country until 2026. [3] France is currently in the grip of its fifth heatwave of the summer, but one weather channel predicts that this will be the last one for 2026. [3]
Impacts and Forecasts
The combined events affect infrastructure, energy production, wildlife, and public safety across multiple regions. [1][2][4][5] In Alaska, levels on the Mendenhall Lake and River are forecast to crest between 16.1 to 16.6 feet on Thursday between 11am to 3pm as the glacier-dammed lake release continues. [1] In Kentucky, additional rainfall amounts up to 0.5 inches are possible, with flash flooding ongoing or expected to begin shortly from thunderstorms that have already dropped 2.5 to 3 inches. [2] In Indiana, flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying areas continues until 400 PM EDT Thursday after 1 to 3 inches of recent rain. [5] In Romania, the low Danube levels have already forced a controlled shutdown of one nuclear unit, with emergency interventions providing only temporary relief as levels near the plant may keep falling through Aug. 16, and voluntary electricity reductions are requested from 7 pm to 11 pm through August 31. [4] The severe central European drought has also impacted wildlife, with fish unable to survive as water temperatures and pollution concentration levels rise while oxygen levels decline. [4]
What to watch next: Crest timing between 16.1 and 16.6 feet on the Mendenhall Lake and River on Thursday, possible additional rainfall up to 0.5 inches in Letcher County, continued flooding until 400 PM EDT Thursday in Hamilton County, and Danube levels near Cernavodă that may keep falling through Aug. 16 with Unit 2 at risk of shutdown if parameters cross limits.
