US weather forecast: Heavy rains, flooding threaten 36 million people

Economic Times

12-05-2025

A stalled storm system has unleashed relentless rain over Southeast US, causing flash flooding, power outages, and severe airport delays. From up to 10 inches of rainfall in 24 hours, cities from Florida to the Carolinas are inundated; meanwhile, forecasters warn parts of the US will see further flooding.
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Heavy downpours across multiple US cities
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Airports, power lines affected in several regions
Storm system slowly moves north of US
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A major storm began unleashing torrential rains across the southeastern United States on Monday, May 12. This placed nearly 36 million residents at risk from severe weather, including flash floods, damaging winds, and potential tornadoes. The Storm Prediction Centre warned that a tornado or two, localised damaging winds and hail would stretch from the Gulf Coast to Virginia.Forecasters reported that parts of Florida, southern Georgia, and Alabama could see up to 10 inches of rain – around two months' worth – by the time the storm passes. Parts of the Carolinas and South Florida have been placed under flood watch and some areas are already experiencing their heaviest rainfall since Hurricane Helene struck in September last year.According to USA Today, eastern North Carolina had recorded two to four inches of rain by Monday afternoon. This prompted flash flood warnings since there was a threat of creeks, streams, urban areas, highways, streets, and underpasses flooding, National Weather Service in Morehead City said.A wide area from Appling in Georgia to Barnwell in South Carolina recorded rainfall between six to 10 inches in just 24 hours. Moreover, cities like Savannah, Augusta, Columbia, and parts of the Florida Panhandle saw 4.5 to 12 inches of rainfall which overwhelmed the local drainage systems.The deluge resulted in power outages for over 20,000 homes and businesses across Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. Florida alone had reported more than 9,500 outages, especially in the Miami-Dade and Broward counties.Airport operations were hit because of the storm, with more than 40 flights at Miami International Airport being cancelled and 160 others getting delayed. The FAA reported that flights operated with an average delay of 90 minutes with potential ground stops in Tampa, Miami, and Atlanta.According to the weather department, the storm system is slowly moving northward, and will continue to cause rains in Virginia, West Virginia, and parts of North Carolina through midweek. Meanwhile, dry conditions are forecast by Wednesday. However, flooding risks have remained high since rivers which are already swollen continue to rise.South Carolina's Congaree River will likely peak at moderate flood stage later this week, with the Pee Dee River in North Carolina potentially to follow by the weekend. Hydrologists are warning that actual flood predictions are unlikely to catch additional rainfall coming on the way.In spite of the disruption from the storm, meteorologists observe that non-flooding rain will relieve some drought in Florida, which has experienced one of its driest beginning to a growing season in more than 10 years. When the storm departs, the area could experience a dry period of 7 to 10 days.A1. Florida, Georgia, Alabama, the Carolinas, and portions of Virginia, Tennessee, and West Virginia have been hit hardest, with flash flood alerts and heavy rain reported throughout these states.A2. Yes. While the storm will begin to weaken by midweek, continued rains and already-saturated soil mean rivers can keep rising, threatening flooding well into the weekend.