Midwest storms: Large hail, torrential rain and tornadoes and more is coming
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Residents in Omaha, Nebraska, awoke to weather sirens blaring and widespread power outages early Tuesday morning as torrential rain, high winds and large hail pummeled the area hours before a new round of storms swept into Iowa and threatened more of the Midwest.
More than 10,000 customers were without power in and around Omaha in the early morning, and the deluge of more than 5 inches (12.7 centimeters) of rain in less than two hours in some areas saw basements flooded and cars submerged in low-lying areas. That downpour, combined with rain earlier in the nighttime hours, brought the total to 8 inches (20.23 centimeters) in the region, according to the National Weather Service.
Television station KETV showed video of several vehicles overtaken by rushing water on a low-lying street in north-central Omaha and firefighters arriving to rescue people inside.