Why devastation struck Texas's 'flash flood alley'
In just three hours, water levels in Central Texas rose over 30 feet, surprising local communities that say they had little time to prepare and no warning. What ensued was one of the most destructive floods the region has seen in decades.
Colby Itkowitz speaks with extreme weather reporter Brianna Sacks about what made the floods in Texas so catastrophic, why local communities were caught off guard, and how these floods have impacted the summer camp culture in Central Texas.
Today's show was produced by Arjun Singh, with help from Tadeo Ruiz Sandoval. It was edited by Ariel Plotnick, with help from Laura Benshoff. It was mixed by Sean Carter.
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New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
How to Know Your Flood Risk
On the heels of devastating flooding in Texas that killed more than 120 people this month, on Monday flash floods inundated subway stations in New York City and closed roads in New Jersey. Extreme rainfall events are becoming more frequent and more intense as climate change alters global weather patterns. At the same time, local early warning alerts often rely on multiple systems working together: A timely mobile notification is useful only if cellphones have service to receive it. That's part of the reason flash floods are 'the hardest kind of disaster to prevent' and why only about half the countries in the world have early warning systems in place. So, what should you do to understand your neighborhood's flood risk? I talked to experts about why you may be at more risk than you think, what you can do about it and how local governments are adapting. The Federal Emergency Management Agency publishes flood maps that inform all kinds of decisions, from zoning regulations to building standards. Some local governments have compiled their own easier-to-read flood maps based on the same information. (You can look at the FEMA flood map for your address here.) FEMA maps remain extremely influential and they help determine which homeowners have to buy flood insurance, for example. But experts have argued that they actually underestimate the growing risk of floods. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Flash flood dangers far from over as storms reload across US
High humidity levels, summer heat and long days will combine to produce conditions favorable for drenching thunderstorms leading to additional flash flooding in the coming days in the eastern, central and southwestern United States, AccuWeather meteorologists warn. There has been a swarm of flash flooding incidents in several parts of the U.S. in recent weeks. Anytime there is a great amount of moisture in the atmosphere and a front, storm, or jet stream fluctuation occurs, tremendous rainfall can be released. AccuWeather meteorologists have outlined flash flooding trouble spots for the days ahead. Some areas recently hit by flooding may be impacted again, while other regions could face heavy rain for the first time in this pattern. A few spots, like Central Texas, are expected to catch a break. Multiple weather systems will contribute to the ongoing flood risk across different parts of the country into next week. Tropical threat grows in the Southeast as flood risk intensifies A tropical rainstorm will travel across the Florida Peninsula and enter the Gulf into midweek. As this occurs, the tropical rainstorm may evolution into a tropical depression or tropical storm. Regardless, tremendous rainfall will be unleashed where it moves inland and stalls over the Gulf Coast states. Dangerous and destructive flash flooding and rises on area rivers are anticipated as inches of rain pour down from midweek to this weekend, with the apex likely to be in Louisiana and western Mississippi. Flash flooding to return to parts of the Northeast midweek Parts of the Northeast are far from finished with drenching showers and thunderstorms. After much of this area has a lull through Tuesday night, downpours will increase in coverage Wednesday and last through Thursday in some areas. While the heaviest rain may slide south of New England and northern New York, areas farther south could face serious flash flooding in urban and small stream the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts™ with Premium+ In the most extreme cases, there will be the potential for 2-4 inches of rain to fall in as many hours or less, just as it did in parts of New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania and New York City on July 14, which led to the deaths of two people from flash flooding in Plainfield, New Jersey. The major metro areas of New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio, will be at risk from Wednesday to Thursday night. "Looking ahead, a push of much less humid air should turn off the downpour and flash flood machine from Friday to Saturday in the mid-Atlantic," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Dombek said. "While it will be short-lived, it will be noticeable for many, especially the farther north and east you are in the Northeast." Humidity levels will again surge in the Northeast from Sunday to Monday as a front approaches. With the moisture surge will come a new threat of thunderstorm downpours and localized flash flooding. This time, the threat could extend into much of New England as well. Vermont was hit by flash flooding for the third year in a row on July 10. North-Central U.S. faces back-to-back flash flood threats Another area at risk for flash flooding-due to a similar setup as in the Northeast-will stretch from central Nebraska to part of western Michigan and includes the metro areas of Chicago and Rockford, Illinois; Milwaukee, Green Bay and Madison, Wisconsin; Minneapolis and Rochester, Minnesota; Des Moines and Davenport, Iowa; Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska; and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This risk will span Tuesday night to early Thursday. After a lull from later Thursday to Friday, a new risk of torrential downpours will follow for the weekend in a large part of this area and will likely be accompanied by severe thunderstorm activity in some locations. Southwest A wedge of hot, dry air should protect flood-devastated areas of Central Texas for a string of days into this weekend. However, a thunderstorm downpour zone will exist farther to the west, and a tropical rainstorm will approach the central Gulf Coast states. "As a storm in the jet stream moves northward from Mexico, it will result in a surge of thunderstorm activity in Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado and possibly as far to the west as Nevada and southeastern California as the week progresses," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Merrill said. The setup is part of the North American monsoon, but with a boost from the jet stream storm. Throw in the arid and rugged landscape, the risk of flash flooding of arroyos, and small streams will increase substantially, Merrill explained. The flash flood risk will not be limited to recent burn scar locations. 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.
Washington Post
4 hours ago
- Washington Post
This is why deadly floods keep hitting the United States
In the week and a half since floods killed at least 130 people in Central Texas, heavy rains have filled New York City subway stations and submerged busy roadways, drowning two people in a vehicle in New Jersey. Storms have stranded Washington-area motorists. Deadly downpours returned to a flood- and fire-scarred region of New Mexico. And meanwhile, flooding rains have yet to relent in Texas.
