Southern states brace for flooding as overflowing Midwest rivers recede

Overflowing rivers were receding in Missouri and Illinois on Friday after flooding swamped communities and forced towns to evacuate, with forecasters warning that rain-swollen waterways flowing downstream could menace Southern states.

At least 28 people have died in the U.S. Midwest since the weekend in rare winter floods, mostly when driving into flooded areas after storms dropped up to 12 inches (30 cm) of rain, officials said. Flooding in the Midwest usually comes in the spring as snowmelt swells rivers.

Dozens died in U.S. storms that were part of a wild worldwide weather system over the New Year's holiday period which has also brought heavy floods and storms to Britain.

More than 100,000 people have had to evacuate from their homes in areas bordering Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina due to severe flooding in the wake of heavy summer rains brought on by El Niأ±o, authorities said last week.

Weather is dominating conversation on social media over the holiday season after the international climate deal in Paris.

Source: SPA