Life-threatening flash flooding returned to the Mississippi and Ohio valleys Friday night, amid what officials warn could be part of historic flooding for the region.
The National Weather Service issued multiple Flash Flood Emergencies – their most dire flooding alerts – for towns in three states Friday night as torrential rains led to life-threatening flooding.
In Missouri, tens of thousands in Cape Girardeau and Van Buren were under flooding emergency Friday night. Cape Girardeau reported over 3 inches of rain in just over 90 minutes late Friday evening in one burst, with emergency managers reporting at least 10 roads covered in water and ongoing water rescues.
Farther south, forecasters issued similar dire warnings for the Texarkana region of northeastern Texas and southwestern Arkansas where 2-4 inches of rain fell and water rescues were ongoing as well.
“THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION,” NWS officials warned. “SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW!”
Highlighting the dangerous weather around the region, there were concurrent Tornado Warnings just 20-40 miles away from the Missouri flood alerts.
Outside the Flash Flood Emeregencies, the National Weather Service offices in Little Rock, Arkansas, and Paducah, Kentucky, highlighted a widespread particularly dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding situation.
Flooding claims