Historic flash flooding is likely in the Mississippi Valley and Ohio Valley has already begun continuing through Saturday as training storms accompany the severe storm threat this week.
Fast Facts:
- Rounds of storms could drop more than a foot of rain across the Mississippi and Ohio valleys.
- The same region devastated by a deadly tornado outbreak now faces ‘life-threatening’ flooding.
- NWS Memphis said: “This is not your average flood risk. Generational flooding with devastating impacts is possible.”
- Flood Watches cover northeastern Texas through central Ohio, stretching over 900 miles and including more than 20 million Americans.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Potentially historic flooding is underway Thursday in the Mississippi and Ohio valleys, as repeated rounds of rain pummel several states in America’s heartland. More than a foot of rain could fall on the region by Sunday.
This is the same part of the country that was devastated by a deadly tornado outbreak Wednesday.
A stalled front draped over the central U.S. will bring continuous rain and storms through the weekend, causing both a flood threat and a severe weather threat.
Newsportual Weather Service offices in Little Rock, Arkansas, and Paducah, Kentucky, have highlighted a particularly dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding situation.
Flooding already happening
Parts of Tennessee and Kentucky have already been inundated, with more than 7 inches of rain already falling in western Tennessee during periods of heavy rain that began late Wednesday evening.
Flooding was underway Thursday morning in Nashville, Tennessee. In the early morning hours, cars were seen stuck in floodwaters in South Nashville.
WATER RESCUES REPORTED IN NASHVILLE AS ‘GENERATIONAL FLOODING’ SLAMS REGION
Cars were stranded in a parking lot when flash flooding impacted Green Hill, a suburb of Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday. Video filmed by James Otto shows the inundated parking lot, with floodwaters submerging several vehicles.
The Nashville Fire Department performed more than a dozen water rescues Tuesday. Due to flooding, numerous roads in the metro area were closed. By Thursday afternoon, creeks and rivers had already overflowed their banks in Memphis.
Nashville and Memphis both recorded daily rain records on Thursday. Nashville more than doubled its daily rain record with 3.8 inches of rain, shattering the old record of 1.5 inches from 1977. This was Music City’s second-wettest April day on record.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee urged people to remain vigilant through the weekend and heed guidance from first responders and local officials.
LIVE STORM TRACKER: SEVERE WEATHER MAPS, FLOODING FORECASTS, RADARS AND MORE
Flash flooding affected parts of central Tennessee on Thursday as the National Weather Service said that severe thunderstorms were moving across the region. This footage of a partially flooded road was captured by the Humphreys County Sheriff’s Office, who urged residents to avoid flooded roadways.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear issued a dire warning during his Thursday news conference.
“It’s the decisions about when to get out, about what to drive through – when to go stay with someone else, that can be the difference between life and death over these next couple of days,” he said.
Life-threatening flash flooding threat extends through weekend
NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center issued a Level 4 out of 4 flash flood threat Friday, covering parts of Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, models have been indicating rainfall totals of several inches, especially across Arkansas into western Kentucky. That is where 24-hour totals in excess of 5-8 inches could be realized in some places on top of rain that has already fallen.
Flood Watches also remain in place through Sunday for southern Illinois, southern Indiana and Ohio.
HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER
(FOX Weather)
The NWS office in Memphis issued this statement on Friday morning: “Total rainfall amounts through Sunday could exceed 10 to 15-inch range along and north of I-40. This is not your average flood risk. Generational flooding with devastating impacts is possible.”
Torrential rains have caused rivers and creeks to overflow in parts of West and Middle Tennessee, as those areas will receive even more rain in the days to come. FOX Weather Meteorologist Kiyana Lewis reports from Memphis, Tennessee.
Flood Watches have been issued from northeastern Texas through central Ohio, stretching over 900 miles and affecting over 20 million Americans. The Level 4 out of 4 flash flood threat shifts east and expands Saturday to include the rain-fatigued areas of western Tennessee and western Kentucky.
WHY HIGH-RISK FLOOD DAYS ARE SO SERIOUS
(FOX Weather)
“Saturday is the day that concerns me the most right now,” said Meteorologist Ryan Husted with the National Weather Service in Nashville. “Because we have time for our atmosphere to recharge, which means we have the potential for dangerous severe thunderstorms once again. In addition, our ground is saturated — that means any rain that falls will run off and it’s going to cause flooding. I’m very confident that Saturday is a dangerous day for flash flooding going into Saturday night.”
Remember, it is never safe to drive through floodwater.
#Potentially #generational #flooding #underway #central #U.S
