Flooding Threatens Great Lakes States

Heavy thunderstorms rumbled through the Great Lakes states Saturday, causing flooding and threatening dams in Wisconsin, and bringing other flooding to Illinois and Indiana, the National Weather Service reported.

Tomah, Wis., was deluged by more than eight inches of rain in a two-hour period early Saturday. The downpour raised waters of Lake Tomah and the Lemonweir River, straining two dams and sending floodwaters up to three feet deep through some areas of the town of 7,200.

Tomah Fire Chief Tom Flock said a small hole had been discovered in a corner of the dam on Lake Tomah and 1,500 people were evacuated as a precaution.

High water in Wisconsin also forced the closure of Interstates 90 and 94 and Wisconsin 12 and 16 between Oakdale and Sparta.

Up to three inches of rain soaked the Chicago area, sending streams over their banks and flooding highway viaducts. The storms produced lightning that knocked out power for up to 20,000 homes.

Up to five inches of rain produced flash floods in northeastern Indiana during the night, north and east of a line from Gary to Richmond. Some of the storms were accompanied by hail and gusty winds. Police reported that strong winds knocked down trees and snapped power lines.