MADISON, Wis. -- The Milwaukee area began drying out Monday after weekend rain hit unofficial records in Wisconsin of more than 14 inches (36 centimeters) in less than 24 hours, leading multiple rivers to flood at record-high levels, washing out vehicles, flooding basements and cutting power to thousands of homes.

A slow-moving storm system that battered Wisconsin over the weekend prompted flood advisories in several states across the central U.S.