Flash floods closed sections of interstates in Ohio as a system of thunderstorms deluged the Midwest on Wednesday afternoon and evening.
Video posted by NBC station WDTN of Dayton showed vehicles submerged or floating in deep water along Interstate 70 north of Dayton. As one car floated past a fire truck on Interstate 70, the crew pulled the driver to safety, WDTN reported. Lines of traffic extended for miles on either side of the flooding.
The Ohio Transportation Department tweeted that the interstate was closed in multiple places.
The Dayton Daily News tweeted an image of one flooded section.
High water was reported in an number of towns around Dayton. In Tipp City, a large sinkhole opened up under a residential street, WDTN reported.
The National Weather Service issued severe thunderstorm watches or flash flood watches for a number of counties in the Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus areas on Wednesday, and a tornado warning for Clark County expired in the afternoon, the Columbus Dispatch reported.
The weather service said that up to 5 inches of rain was possible in areas around Dayton on Friday night. It warned drivers not to enter swiftly moving water or standing water of unknown depth.
Warnings for severe thunderstorms and flash floods also were issued for areas around Indianapolis, NBC station WTHR reported.
Storms also hit the Denver area on Wednesday afternoon, bringing unusual tornado watches for the areas.
— Gil Aegerter
