Dangerous Severe Storms, Flooding from Texas to Ohio
A torrential downpour sweeping across downtown Columbus, Ohio. (Courtesy of AccuWeather.com Facebook Fan Will Alston)
As waves of low pressure keep riding along a stationary front draped from the southern Plains to the mid-Atlantic, more rounds of heavy showers and storms are in store for these areas the next few days.
Storms that develop from western Texas to Ohio today have the potential to turn severe and produce life-threatening flash flooding.
Severe Storm Threat into Tonight
Storms rolling through the central and southern Plains early on Friday morning will advance eastward into the Midwest, from Missouri and southern Iowa through Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, today into tonight.
Damaging wind gusts over 60 mph and large hail will be produced by the strongest storms, threatening localized damage and endangering lives in some communities.
Trees toppled by strong winds can fall onto vehicles and homes, while trees downed onto power lines can lead to power outages.
Isolated tornadoes can also touch down and cause extensive damage.
St. Louis, Mo., Springfield, Ill., Indianapolis, Ind., Cincinnati, Ohio, Louisville, Ky., are at risk.
A second and even more volatile round of storms will develop later in the day, from western Texas to southwestern Missouri and Arkansas.
High wind gusts, hail larger than golf balls and tornadoes will strike this corridor during the evening hours.
The greatest risk for destructive storms and tornadoes will be from Wichita Falls, Texas, to Springfield, Mo. Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Okla., lie within this zone.
While the threat for severe weather will last well into the night over the southern Plains, the flash flood threat will become an even bigger concern.
Dangerous Flash Flood Threat
The greatest threat of flash flooding will lie closest to the stationary front draped across the region, since this will be the focal point for the heaviest thunderstorms.
Moisture-rich air surging in from the Gulf of Mexico will provide plenty of fuel for torrential downpours. Several inches of rain can pour down in the matter of a few hours in some locations.
Some portions of the southern Plains are already dealing with dangerous flooding. Storms on Sunday and Sunday night soaked Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri.
Water rescues and house evacuations were under way near Leawood, Mo., early on Monday morning with rapidly rising flood waters.
Wichita, Kan., was among the cities and towns hit hard by flooding on Sunday. Numerous roads became impassible and several vehicles stalled out in high water.
By tonight, thunderstorms will cluster together and drench Oklahoma to Missouri, resulting in more flooded roads and farmland.
The Ohio Valley states are at risk for flooding with additional rainfall today and tonight.
If you come across a roadway with water over it, turn around and find an alternate route. Taking the extra time to change routes could save your life.
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past 24 hours
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|---|---|---|
| High | 78° | Needles, CA |
| Low | -20° | Fosston, MN |
| Precip | 0.66" | Chatham, MA |
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