Blizzard in the North and floods in the South while severe storms batter eastern U.S.
Parts of the Southeast were experiencing potentially life-threatening flash floods Saturday as a severe weather system made its way across the country, also posing a risk of significant snow for the Upper Midwest and New England.
Parts of the Southeast were experiencing potentially life-threatening flash floods Saturday as a severe weather system made its way across the country, also posing a risk of significant snow for the Upper Midwest and New England.
The NWS warned early Saturday that severe flash flooding is likely in the Ohio and Tennessee valleys, particularly in parts of Kentucky and Tennessee. Around 20 million people are under some measure of flood alert from Arkansas to Pennsylvania.
“The greatest risk for this intense rainfall prompting life-threatening flash flooding will be across portions of northwestern Tennessee and western Kentucky, where a High Risk of Excessive Rainfall (level 4/4) is in effect,” the weather service said in its short-range forecast discussion.
Widespread and intense thunderstorms were expected to move over the region through the day, dropping up to 6 inches of rain in some places and isolated totals of up to 8 inches. The storms are expected to continue through early Sunday.
By Saturday afternoon, ongoing flash flooding was reported in parts of Tennessee and Kentucky, where more than 4 to 5 inches of rain has already fallen. A number of road closures were reported in the states due to flooding.
Rating: 5