Weekly wrap-up: Great American Eclipse stuns skywatchers; Kansas City flooding leads to 160 water rescues

By Katy Galimberti, AccuWeather staff writer

August 25,2017, 4:00:15PM,EDT

 The Great American Eclipse dazzled skywatchers across the United States this week.

Where skies were clear, onlookers captured stunning photos and watched in awe as the moon passed directly in front of the sun.
The best viewing conditions, where skies were mainly clear, occurred across the Pacific Northwest in places like Portland, Oregon; Boise, Idaho; and Casper, Wyoming. Cloudy skies blocked views in parts of the Midwest.

In this multiple exposure photograph, the phases of a partial solar eclipse are seen over the Gateway Arch on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, in St. Louis. The Gateway Arch was just a few miles outside of the path of totality. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Officials performed at least 160 water rescues in the Kansas City area this week after about 10 inches of rain washed the area.
One person was killed in the flooding, according to ABC News. A 56-year-old man died when his car hydroplaned off a highway into deep rushing water. His body was found 75 yards away from his vehicle, ABC News said.
Some people fled to the roof of their house as floodwater surged inside.
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Fires raged in Portugal this week, injuring nearly 90 people.
A helicopter crashed while fighting a fire in northern Portugal on Sunday killing the pilot, according to AFP.
Rounds of intense heat and prolonged drought have created prime conditions for fires to burn out of control. Fires in Portugal this year have accounted for more than one-third of all burnt forest in the European Union, according to the Press Association.
At least 16 people are dead and many others missing after Hato battered Macau and southeastern China. Water pumps in Macau are reportedly severely damaged, and about half the city lost power.
Hato made landfall as a moderate typhoon, equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane, just southwest of Hong Kong during early Wednesday afternoon, local time.

People play with strong wind caused by Typhoon Hato on the waterfront of Victoria Habour in Hong Kong, Wednesday, Aug. 23,2017. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

Wind gusts reached 89 mph (144 km/h) in Hong Kong around midday Wednesday, local time, even though Hato's center missed the city.
At least eight people are missing after a landslide in the Val Bondasca region, along the Italian border. More than 120 rescuers started search and recovery missions on Wednesday.
Rocks and mud poured into streets, cutting off road access and damaging at least 12 farm buildings.