A dangerous weather system moving through America’s heartland claimed at least one life Thursday as severe conditions continue threatening communities with tornadoes, flooding, and deadly lightning strikes.
The fatality occurred Wednesday evening in Waukesha, located west of Milwaukee, where authorities say a man was apparently killed by lightning while walking through a parking lot during intense storms. According to local police, the “area was experiencing heavy rainfall accompanied by significant thunder and lightning” when someone spotted the victim on the ground.
“Preliminary information indicates the individual was struck by lightning while walking through the parking lot during the storm,” police said.
The widespread severe weather outbreak has been fueled by an atmospheric setup combining extremely humid conditions with a powerful jet stream, creating a dangerous corridor stretching from central Texas northward into the Midwest and eastward across the Great Lakes region. Between Monday and Wednesday alone, the National Weather Service documented more than 1,100 incidents of damaging weather including large hail, winds exceeding 60 mph, and tornado touchdowns, according to Bill Bunting, a meteorologist with the Storm Prediction Center.
These dangerous conditions have persisted across numerous states throughout the week and may extend into the weekend.
“There’s been a tremendous amount of lightning with these storms over the last few days,” said Mark Gehring, a meteorologist with the weather service in Milwaukee.
“We’ve had the temperature and humidity of summer and it’s lasting an entire week — in mid-April,” he added. “In addition to a very stormy pattern, nearly every day we’re having heavy rain. We’ve had tornadoes nearly every day, very large hail.”
Weather officials have confirmed five tornado touchdowns across southern and central portions of Wisconsin, though Gehring expects that number to grow as damage surveys continue. He warned that Friday evening could bring another round of severe weather to the region.
Beyond the tornado and lightning threats, the storm system has delivered torrential rainfall, prompting weather officials to issue numerous flood warnings and watches spanning multiple states.
Emergency crews in Cheboygan, Michigan worked frantically this week to pump water from a threatened dam, even removing floodgates to reduce pressure buildup. City officials warned residents and businesses Monday to prepare emergency bags with essential medications, documents, and supplies while staying alert for evacuation orders due to rising flood risks.
The small northern Michigan community of Bellaire, home to about 1,000 residents, announced Thursday that excessive rainfall has overwhelmed its sewage treatment facilities, forcing officials to discharge partially treated wastewater into nearby wetlands. Village leaders asked residents to minimize household water usage to help reduce the burden on the failing system.
Carl Johnson, 59, owns property along the rapidly swelling Muskegon River in western Michigan and has offered to help neighbors with his boats as waters continue rising.
“It’s out of the banks everywhere. It’s really bad,” he told The Associated Press. “It’s not supposed to crest until Saturday.”
In Portage, Wisconsin, the Wisconsin River has reached major flood stage and forecasters predict it could meet or exceed the record level of 20.7 feet sometime Friday morning, meteorologist Gehring reported.
“Right now, it’s at 19.9 feet, not that far off,” he said. “In Portage, there’s a large area of low-land flooding. Many roads are flooded. There’s a levee there. It’s important that the levee holds.”
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers issued a state emergency declaration earlier this week as conditions worsened.
Motorists became stranded Wednesday night when floodwaters overtook a Milwaukee-area highway, prompting the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office to post urgent warnings advising residents to avoid driving in southeastern Wisconsin.
However, relief may be approaching for Wisconsin residents dealing with the relentless weather pattern.
“We have one more severe, heavy rain event coming this way before we get a good break,” Gehring said. “That’s going to be on Friday evening. That’s going to be the last gasp of severe rain.”
Friday’s weather system will still pose risks for additional tornadoes, heavy downpours, and flooding concerns.
“It just keeps coming, but that will be the last one,” Gehring said.
