Flooding sweeps away 9-year-old as storms slam central US

A 9-year-old boy in Kentucky was swept away by floodwaters on Friday. He was one of at least 16 people who died in recent storms across the US.

High winds and heavy rain continued to hit Arkansas, Tennessee, and Kentucky on Saturday. These conditions delayed recovery efforts in affected areas.

The National Weather Service warned of "potentially historic" rainfall. They also predicted wide temperature swings from the central US to the East Coast through Sunday.

The boy was walking to his school bus stop when he was overtaken by flooding. The Frankfort Police Department confirmed they recovered his body about two hours later.

Franklin County Schools Superintendent Mark Kopp expressed deep sadness over the tragedy. He said it claimed the life of one of their students.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear called the boy's death an "unimaginable loss." He also confirmed another adult death in Kentucky on Saturday.

He urged everyone to understand that all water poses a risk right now. "Let's do everything possible to keep our loved ones safe," he stated.

Forecasters expect severe thunderstorms and flash flooding across a wide area. This includes regions from Arkansas and Louisiana to Western Pennsylvania through Sunday.

As of Saturday afternoon, over 162,000 people were without power in several states. Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky had declared states of emergency earlier this week.

Forecasters warned that storms could bring catastrophic rainfall amounts. Some areas might see 10-20 inches before conditions improve.

Even after the rain stops, swollen rivers will remain dangerous. Changes in pressure and high winds increase tornado risks from eastern Texas to western Tennessee.

It has been a punishing week for the region with numerous tornadoes reported. Hundreds of counties have faced storm warnings since Wednesday.

Tennessee has recorded 10 deaths so far, according to CBS News. Other victims include a man and his teenage daughter in Tennessee and a 68-year-old man in Missouri who stopped to help a stranded driver.

In March, this same region experienced tornadoes, wildfires, and dust storms that killed 40 people and caused significant damage.