Severe storms knock out power and force cancellations of major sporting events in US midwest

Among the worst hit was the Milwaukee area, where up to 36 centimetres of rain had fallen in some areas by Sunday, according to the US National Weather Service.

Heavy rains across the US Midwest on Sunday caused flash flooding in large areas that cut power to thousands of households in southeast Wisconsin, according to emergency officials.The flash flooding affected half a dozen Midwest states, including the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, forcing motorists to abandon their vehicles and necessitating multiple water rescues, authorities said. Organisers of the Wisconsin State Fair said they were scrapping the final day of the 11-day event after rains flooded the fairgrounds in West Allis, which is just outside Milwaukee.“We are saddened we cannot deliver this final day of the Wisconsin State Fair, but know that this is the best decision with current conditions and the forecast ahead,” organizers said in a statement.The US National Weather Service issued flood watches and warnings for parts of Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Nearly 18,000 people in Wisconsin without powerFollowing heavy rainfall, which started on Saturday in some regions, forecasters predicted “repeated rounds of heavy rain,” along with hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes into Monday.According to the National Weather Service, among the worst hit was the Milwaukee area, where up to 14 inches (36 centimetres) of rain had fallen in some areas by Sunday, which also noted river flooding in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties. Some motorists left their stranded cars on the roads. Nearly 18,000 customers of We Energies in southeast Wisconsin were without power late Sunday. In the suburban village of Wauwatosa, an overflowing and fast-moving Menomonee River submerged a popular playground.Firefighters responded to over 600 calls, including for gas leaks, flooded basements, electrical outages and water rescues, according to the Milwaukee Fire Department. And while crews worked to clear surface water, the Red Cross opened two shelters in the city for displaced residents.“We’re still in the middle of it,” Fire Chief Aaron Lipski told reporters Sunday. “We’re still catching up right now.”Sprint and Paratriathlon National Championships cancelledIn Milwaukee, USA Triathlon cancelled the Sprint and Paratriathlon National Championships, which were anticipated to draw thousands of competitors. Even though American Family Field's parking lot was still closed to cars, the Brewers and Mets still played there.“We will not be able to guarantee parking for all fans, even those who purchased parking in advance,” the Brewers said in a statement before the game.City officials warned residents to avoid driving or walking in the standing waters. “It remains dangerous,” the City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works said in a statement.Tropical Storm Henriette expected but no threatMeanwhile, Tropical Storm Henriette rapidly strengthened into a hurricane Sunday in the central Pacific Ocean with further strengthening expected, but it poses no threat to land, the National Hurricane Center said.The Miami-based centre said the storm was located about 720 kilometres north-northeast of Hilo, Hawaii, with maximum sustained winds of 130 kphIt was moving northwest at 28 kph on a course that’s expected to take it well north of the Hawaiian Islands over the next few days. The storm was expected to strengthen through Monday, followed by weakening on Tuesday.The centre described Henriette as a small tropical cyclone. Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 30 kilometres from the storm’s centre.