Storm that Caused Arkansas Flooding Moving over Mid-Atlantic
It is feared the death toll will continue to rise this weekend as crews continue to search for survivors through flash flood-ravaged Caddo and Little Missouri River basins in Montgomery County Arkansas.
The same storm system that caused the flooding in Arkansas Thursday night will move from the Ohio Valley into the mid-Atlantic tonight. Some of the thunderstorms developing in response have already been producing wind damage and will remain strong through early tonight. By Sunday, the storm will move offshore.
According to CNN, officials originally had put the death toll to 20, but this figure was revised to 16 later Friday. These people died in flash flooding in the early morning hours well west of Little Rock.
Search and rescue operations continue in the vicinity of the Albert Pike Campground in Montgomery County, Arkansas. Dozens of people are still unaccounted for.
Over a half a foot of rain fell on the terrain surrounding the area, which then washed rapidly into the waterways. Water levels rapidly rose 20 feet, storming over the banks of the streams, catching people by surprise as they slept.
According to the Associated Press, two dozen people have been hospitalized and another 60 were rescued following the flooding Friday.
This Doppler radar image shows the storm total rainfall estimate for western Arkansas as of Friday midday, June 11, 2010.
Flooding rain from the same storm system killed a man in Texas at midweek. Parts of central and northeastern Texas received over a half a foot of rain during the nighttime hours Thursday.
The storm system, which has been concentrating tropical moisture in a small area, continued moving slowly northeastward from eastern Missouri into the Ohio Valley Friday night into Saturday.
While the storm system has weakened since Thursday night, it has still caused problems early this weekend.
Thunderstorms associated with the system were able to dump 1 to 3 inches of rain across the Ohio Valley during this time. Localized flash flooding resulted in a few areas. In Butler County, Ohio, for example, numerous roads became covered with water Saturday morning.
The threat for flash flooding will continue decreasing through tonight as thunderstorms associated with the storm system move through the mid-Atlantic. However, locally heavy rain and damaging winds could continue affecting some areas from Virginia into Pennsylvania through tonight.
If flash flooding does happen to occur in your local area, remember not to drive across a flooded roadway. The water can conceal deep holes, or the mere force of running water can carry your vehicle downstream and submerge it.
Related to the Story:
A Look at Why Arkansas Flooding was so Deadly
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AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski and Meteorologist Heather Buchman contributed to the content of this story.
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A large, horrific tornado struck the city of Joplin, Mo., last year on this date. The twister cut a deadly path across the south side of the city, leaving over 159 dead and at least 1,150 injured. The Joplin tornado currently ranks as the 7th deadliest tornado in U.S. history.
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