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Live tracker maps show that an atmospheric river is expected to continue dumping rain across multiple states in the Midwest and South through Saturday night.
Why It Matters
Earlier this week, AccuWeather meteorologists warned of a 1-in-1,000-year flood posing threats to several states. An AccuWeather spokesperson told Newsweek that floods like this have a 0.1 percent chance of happening in any given year.
Myriad weather alerts and warnings remain in place across the United States from eastern Texas through western Pennsylvania on Friday. The biggest threat posed to 12 states in that region on Friday is flooding from excessive rainfall.
What to Know
The atmospheric river arrived on Wednesday and has been bringing repeated rounds of heavy rainfall across several states. Flood alerts of varying severity have been issued by National Weather Service (NWS) offices in at least 12 states:
- Texas
- Oklahoma
- Arkansas
- Missouri
- Mississippi
- Tennessee
- Kentucky
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Ohio
- West Virginia
- Pennsylvania
Meanwhile, flash flood warnings have been issued in Oklahoma, Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia.
Earlier this week, National Water Center service coordination hydrologist Jason Elliott told Newsweek that the area of greatest impact will shift to Arkansas, Missouri, southern Indiana and southern Illinois by Friday, before returning to western Tennessee and western Kentucky by Saturday.
Animated weather footage from windy.com shows the impacts from the atmospheric river that are expected to cause issue through Saturday night.
Rainfall Accumulation
Lots of rain has already fallen across numerous states, with at least eight climate sites across three states anticipating four-day rainfall records to be broken by the end of the storm.
According to the map from windy.com, the heaviest rainfall over the next few days is concentrated in Arkansas, western Tennessee, western Kentucky, and southeastern Missouri.
Weather Radar
As of Friday morning, storm bands stretched from Oklahoma and eastern Kansas through West Virginia and into Maryland.
Many of the storms are expected to stall over certain areas, which contributes to the heavy rainfall.
Wind
Atmospheric rivers are also known for the strong winds they can produce. According to animated weather footage tracking wind gusts, the strongest winds on Friday were in eastern Texas, across much of Louisiana, and into western Mississippi. Gusts were measured at nearly 40 miles per hour in some places.
Thunderstorms
Earlier this week, the atmospheric river spawned a tornado outbreak across several states. Severe thunderstorms still pose an issue on Friday, with the strongest storms documented in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri.
The NWS warned that very large hail and tornados were possible on Friday across parts of Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas.
What People Are Saying
NWS office in Paducah, Kentucky, in a flash flood warning issued on Friday morning: "Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing flash flooding. Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses. Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles."
NWS office in Memphis, Tennessee, in a Friday morning forecast: "A Moderate Risk for severe storms now exists in portions of northeast Arkansas and the Missouri Bootheel for today. Storms will begin this afternoon and last into the overnight hours. All severe weather hazards are on the table today. Ensure you have multiple ways to receive warnings!"
What Happens Next
Rain is expected to continue falling through Saturday night. Any river flooding could persist into next week as it will take time for the waters to recede.
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About the writer
Anna Skinner is a Newsweek senior reporter based in Indianapolis. Her focus is reporting on the climate, environment and weather ... Read more