Floods Could Follow Ice In Midwest

Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) - A break in the Arctic cold may mean no new snow in the Midwest today, but perhaps a lot of rain -- and flooding.

Thick ice on roads is thawing and mountains of snow are turning into pools and streams of water.

The National Weather Service says there's the potential for significant flooding through tonight in northern Illinois. As much as 2 inches of rain fell in two hours overnight in west-central Illinois.

Flood watches and warnings are also posted for parts of Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan and Missouri. The warmer air is leading to tornado watches in parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois and Kansas.

Iowa's overflowing Chariton River is already causing minor flooding. Road flooding has also been reported in parts of Missouri.

Fog-related problems led to hundreds of flight cancellations at Chicago airports last night. Today, operations have returned to near normal at Midway Airport, though dozens of flights have been canceled. More than 100 flights have been called off at O'Hare International.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.