The Midwest suffered flooding over the weekend that led to forced evacuations, water rescues, a bridge collapse, and a death while other states saw a heat wave.
This combination creates dangerous conditions for construction workers and motorists.
Roads were closed because of flooding in South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska. More rain is expected over the next few days, and many rivers may not crest until later in the week, according to the Associated Press.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem declared a state of emergency after severe flooding in the southeast part of the state. According to Noem, at least one person died in the floods.
Multiple highways in South Dakota had to be closed due to the flooding.
The railroad bridge connecting North Sioux City, S.D. to Sioux City, Iowa collapsed into the Big Sioux River on Sunday due to floodwaters.
In an interview with KCAU-TV, Jason Westcott, an emergency manager in Union County, S.D., said some of the trusses collapsed.
Eric Tigges of Clay County emergency management in Iowa said 13 rivers flooded forcing entire neighborhoods and an entire town to evacuate.
“When the flood gauge is underwater, it’s really high,” Tigges said at a news conference.
Parts of Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa received eight times the typical average rainfall, according to the National Weather Service.
While the Midwest dealt with flooding, other parts of the country dealt with a heat wave that saw temperatures rise into triple digits.
Places like Washington D.C., Baltimore, and Philadelphia saw record heat over the weekend.
An analysis of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that excessive heat contributed to over 2,300 deaths last year, the highest in 45 years of record.
People who work outside, like construction workers, are cautioned to try to stay cool and hydrated.
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Source: The Associated Press, CBS News, Newsweek
