Late-week storms in eastern US to increase flood risk
Following rounds of thunderstorms that brought damaging winds, tornadoes and travel disruptions, rain and thunderstorms will continue to bring an increased risk of flash flooding in the Southeast and Carolinas.
A driver in Youngstown, Ohio, caught a tornado in the side mirror as severe storms swept through the region with damaging winds, hail, flash flooding and tornado threats.
After rounds of severe weather from the Great Lakes to the East Coast Tuesday and Wednesday, AccuWeather meteorologists are watching for a greater risk of flash flooding across the mid-Atlantic and into the Southeast through the end of the week.
Disruptive flash flood risk to continue in parts of East
Late-week torrential downpours and frequent lightning will continue to affect a broad area along the Atlantic Coast after Tuesday's severe weather and significant rainfall. The flash flooding threat will focus from southeastern Virginia to northern Georgia and Alabama. Pockets of heavy rain and isolated flash flooding will occur farther to the south, and especially in the vicinity of Bertha near the Gulf Coast.
Rain may fall fast enough to overwhelm storm drains and trigger street flooding. In suburban and rural areas, rapidly rising water can quickly cause flash flooding along small streams. Rainfall rates of 2 inches per hour or more are possible in the most intense storms.
Motorists should never drive through flooded roads. Water is often deeper than it appears, road surfaces may be washed away, and conditions can worsen rapidly. Just 1-2 feet of moving water can sweep a vehicle away. Floodwater can also disable a vehicle's electrical system, trapping occupants inside.
"Remember the saying, 'turn around, don't drown,'" AccuWeather On-Air Reporter Anna Azallion said.
Lightning can strike well ahead of an approaching thunderstorm. Move indoors as soon as you hear thunder or see lightning. Trees, canopies, picnic pavilions and golf carts do not offer adequate protection from a lightning strike.
A midsummer's day filled with severe weather
There were hundreds of reports of severe weather Tuesday, including close to a dozen reports of tornadoes from the Midwest to the Atlantic Coast.
Reports of damaging wind stretched from Kentucky into New York as severe thunderstorms raced eastward Tuesday and Tuesday night, with a handful of tornadoes also reported in Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
In response to Tuesday's storms, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey declared a state of emergency for all 55 counties after communities were affected by flooding and storm damage. Overall, a swath of 3-6 inches of rain fell across north-central West Virginia over 12 hours.
Along Sand Run Creek near Buckhannon, West Virginia, the water level surged to 10.63 feet Tuesday evening, shattering the previous record crest of 8.3 feet and reaching major flood stage before receding into the minor flood stage. The Tygart Valley River at Philippi, West Virginia, also reached a moderate flood stage of 22.20 feet Wednesday morning.
Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts™ are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
Report a Typo
