Extreme Weather Causes Flooding, Power Outages Across US Midwest

Severe weather continues to impact large parts of the United States and the world, with the US Midwest experiencing heavy rains that caused flash flooding, power outages, and event cancellations, including the final day of the Wisconsin State Fair and national triathlon championships in Milwaukee. The National Weather Service has issued flood watches and warnings across multiple states, with some areas receiving up to 14 inches of rain, leading to water rescues and significant infrastructure damage. In addition to localized severe weather, the global impact of extreme weather events remains profound, with over 750,000 deaths and billions in economic losses reported worldwide from 1993 to 2022, particularly affecting Caribbean nations, China, and increasingly Southern European countries like Italy, Greece, and Spain. These events underscore the rising frequency and intensity of storms, floods, heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires, emphasizing the urgent need for global action on climate resilience. Meanwhile, scattered strong storms and heat indexes over 100 degrees are forecasted for the coming week in some US regions, indicating continued hazardous weather conditions. The combination of local and global perspectives highlights the broad-reaching consequences of extreme weather on human life, economies, and political stability.