Flood-weary residents in Missouri, Arkansas and Ohio fought to save their homes after heavy rainstorms pushed swollen rivers out of their banks, and a fresh snowstorm blew through parts of the Upper Midwest, canceling flights and some Good Friday holiday services.
Along the Meramec River in eastern Missouri, residents of Valley Park hoped the town's $49 million (euro31.77 million) earthen levee, built in 2005 to withstand a 100-year flood, would pass its first big test. The surging Meramec was expected to crest at a record 40 feet (12 meters) on Saturday _ 24 feet (7 meters) above flood stage.
The Army Corps of Engineers and Missouri Public Safety said the levee was in good shape, but some residents decided to leave for higher ground just in case.
Heavy snow fell or was expected from Minnesota to Ohio. Milwaukee got 14 inches (36 centimeters) Friday and 10 inches (25 centimeters) fell in Red Wing, Minnesota.
The timing of the storm was disappointing for dozens of Wisconsin church officials who decided to cancel Good Friday services.
Snow forced the cancellation of more than 450 flights and delayed numerous others at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, one of the world's busiest. Many flights were also canceled at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Michigan, where up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) of snow was expected in areas.
Northern Ohio residents prepared for an expected 3 to 6 inches (15 centimeters) of snow, while flood victims in the southern parts of the state began the arduous task of cleaning up after some of the heaviest rain in years.
Parts of the Midwest got a foot of rain over a 36-hour period this week, causing widespread flash flooding. The worst flooding happened in smaller rivers across the nation's midsection. Major channels such as the Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio rivers saw only minor flooding.
Government forecasters warned that some flooding could continue in the coming days because of record rainfall and melting snow pack across much of the Midwest and Northeast.
At least 16 deaths have been linked to the weather over the past few days, and at least two people whose vehicles were swept away by rushing water Tuesday were still missing in Arkansas.
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Associated Press writers Betsy Taylor in Eureka and Kelly P. Kissel in Little Rock, Arkansas, contributed to this report.
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