Latest news with #FlashFloodEmergency
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Daily Weather Update from FOX Weather: Potential tropical trouble brews as heavy rain lashes Southeast coast
Welcome to the Daily Weather Update from FOX Weather. It's Wednesday, June 4, 2025. Start your day with everything you need to know about today's weather. You can also get a quick briefing of national, regional and local weather whenever you like with the FOX Weather Update podcast. A low-pressure system is brewing off the Southeast coast, threatening heavy rain and flash flooding in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. The National Hurricane Center is keeping a close eye on the system for a low chance of tropical development. This system, which already dumped over 6 inches of rain on Miami earlier this week, is expected to track northward along the southeastern U.s. coastline starting Wednesday afternoon. The FOX Forecast Center is monitoring its path, noting that its proximity to land will influence the likelihood of it developing into a tropical depression or tropical storm. Strong to severe thunderstorms swept through central Kansas on Tuesday, triggering life-threatening flooding in and around eastern Wichita. The National Weather Service office that covers the Wichita area issued a Flash Flood Emergency – the highest level of flood alert – for more than 200,000 residents after rainfall rates reached between 1-3 inches per hour. Within the Flash Flood Emergency zone, storm totals reached nearly 7 inches of rainfall, which overwhelmed drainage systems and transformed roadways into rivers. The heaviest rainfall occurred east of Interstate 135, where multiple water rescues were reported throughout the afternoon. A large wave of Saharan dust making its way across the Atlantic Basin is forecast to arrive in the U.S. later this week, impacting the Southeast with hazy skies and "dirty rain." Noaa estimates that more than 180 million tons of dust leave the African continent every year, and the extremely dry air reduces thunderstorm activity and tropical cyclone formation. Saharan dust has taken over nearly the entire Atlantic Basin, according to NOAA satellites. One of the larger waves of concentrated dust approached the Caribbean on Monday. By Thursday, this thick plume is forecast to enter the Gulf of America, over the Florida Keys and cover much of the Sunshine State. Another round of dust will move in along the northern Gulf Coast by Friday and head into the Southeast. Sharks aren't the only thing beachgoers need to be on the lookout for in Florida this summer. A black bear was spotted taking a dip in the Gulf waters off Naples. A mother and son saw the unexpected creature emerging from the sea last Friday. Video taken by Kylie Nelson shows the bear swimming up to the beach and then taking a stroll. "Mom, run!" Nelson's son said as the bear approached the shoreline. Here are a few more stories you might find interesting. Record-breaking sargassum invasion in Atlantic, Caribbean threatens to foul beach resorts Air quality craters in Minneapolis as Canadian wildfire smoke blankets large swath of US Runaway zebra still on the loose after shutting down Tennessee interstate Need more weather? Check your local forecast plus 3D radar in the FOX Weather app. You can also watch FOX Weather wherever you go using the FOX Weather app, at or on your favorite streaming service. It's easy to share your weather photos and videos with us. Email them to weather@ or add the hashtag #FOXWeather to your post on your favorite social media article source: Daily Weather Update from FOX Weather: Potential tropical trouble brews as heavy rain lashes Southeast coast
Cedar News
5 days ago
- Climate
- Cedar News
VIDEO: Flash Flood Emergency Declared as Vehicles Stall on Flooded Roads in Wichita, Kansas
Heavy rains have caused severe flooding in Wichita, Kansas, leading to multiple vehicles stalling on flooded roadways. Authorities have issued a Flash Flood Emergency for Wichita and surrounding areas, urging residents to avoid travel and stay safe. Stay updated and follow local alerts as rescue efforts continue. Avoid flooded streets — your safety is a priority. #WichitaFlood #FlashFloodEmergency #KansasWeather #FloodSafety
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Flash Flood Emergency strikes Kansas with water rescues around Wichita
WICHITA, Kan. - Strong to severe thunderstorms swept through Central Kansas on Tuesday, triggering life-threatening flooding in and around eastern Wichita. The National Weather Service office that covers the Wichita area issued a Flash Flood Emergency – the highest level of flood alert – for more than 200,000 residents after rainfall rates reached between 1-3 inches per hour. Within the Flash Flood Emergency zone, storm totals were expected to reach at least 6 inches of rainfall, which overwhelmed drainage systems and transformed roadways into rivers. The heaviest of the rainfall occurred east of Interstate 135, where multiple water rescues were reported throughout the afternoon. "We have had quite a number of submerging calls since the rainfall really started building up on us here in the city of Wichita. So, right now, all of our crews are monitoring radios if they haven't been dispatched, but we have our heavy rescue, water rescue team deployed out and numerous of our water rescue team members and other fire trucks deployed throughout the city also," said Wichita Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Jose Ocadiz. 7 Facts You Should Know About Flash Floods Emergency officials encouraged residents to stay home, but if people must venture out, to avoid venturing on roadways of unknown water depths. "Every time it rains heavily, we respond to calls from people who thought they could make it. And sometimes, those stories don't end well," the Wichita Police Department stated. First responders attended to nearly 100 calls for service which involved some type of assistance for people needing to reach higher ground. According to NWS forecasters, just 6 inches of fast-moving water can knock an adult off their feet and a foot of floodwater can carry a car away. Significant flooding was also reported in nearby El Dorado, where vehicles stood no chance on some roadways. Wind damage was reported further northeast around the Kansas City metro, with locations around Arrowhead stadium put under a Tornado Warning. Tornado sirens sounded and at least one tractor trailer was flipped on Interestat 70, but meteorologists have not confirmed whether the damage was from straight-line winds or a twister. Know Your Flood Terminology: What Flood Watches, Warnings And Emergencies Really Mean The Flash Flood Emergency alert is only in the most dangerous flooding situations, when catastrophic, life-threatening flooding is either ongoing or is imminent. Typically, only a few dozen such alerts are issued nationwide each year, highlighting the gravity of Tuesday's situation in the heart of Kansas. More than 500,000 people were under various flood warnings as the thunderstorms marched eastward across the state. The full extent of impacts from the heavy rainfall were still being assessed as of Tuesday evening, but fortunately, local authorities had not reported any missing people connected to the wet weather article source: Flash Flood Emergency strikes Kansas with water rescues around Wichita
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Know your flood terminology: What Flood Watches, Warnings and Emergencies really mean
Flooding is one of the deadliest weather hazards in the U.s. each year, and understanding flood alerts issued by National Weather Service meteorologists can be lifesaving. These include Flood Watches, Flood Warnings, Flash Flood Warnings and the rare Flash Flood Emergency. Each alert carries a different level of urgency and is meant to help protect lives and property. According to NOAA data, an average of 127 people die from flooding each year, with nearly half of those deaths involving vehicles. 7 Facts You Should Know About Flash Floods A Flood Watch can be issued by National Weather Service meteorologists hours or even days in advance of a potential flooding event. While a watch does not guarantee flooding will occur, it signals a high likelihood based on forecasts, current conditions and recent rainfall accumulation. These alerts typically cover large geographic areas and may remain in effect for several days, especially during prolonged weather systems like tropical cyclones or atmospheric rivers. "The occurrence of flooding is neither certain nor imminent. Persons in the watch area are advised to check flood action plans, stay informed, and be prepared to take necessary actions if a warning is issued or flooding is observed. A Flash Flood Watch may also be issued for a potential dam break," the NWS stated. Flood Watches are usually depicted in a dark green color on weather maps. Flood Watch, Warning And Emergency: Here Are The Differences That Could Save Your Life A Flood Warning or a Flash Flood Warning is issued when flooding is either imminent or occurring. Heavy rainfall or flooded waterways can lead to the issuance of these alerts, which are usually only posted for a limited region. Flash Flood Warnings are issued for events caused by heavy, sudden rainfall, while Flood Warnings are issued for events that occur more gradually, such as river rises. The NWS issues more than 4,000 Flash Flood Warnings every year due to the dangers posed to lives and properties. Buildings, driveways and other infrastructure can increase the amount of water runoff by reducing the amount of rain absorbed by the ground. According to NWS forecasters, just 6 inches of fast-moving water can knock an adult off their feet and a foot of floodwater can carry a car away. Flood Warnings are usually depicted in a light green color on weather maps. How To Watch Fox Weather A Flash Flood Emergency is the highest level of flood alert issued by the National Weather Service and is reserved only for life-threatening situations. To warrant this designation, catastrophic flooding must be ongoing with the potential for devastating consequences. The NWS began issuing Flash Flood Emergency alerts in 2003, and each year, only a few dozen are typically issued. According to NOAA statistics, less than 1% of all flood alerts are classified as Flash Flood Emergencies. A record 92 emergencies were issued in 2024, largely due to Hurricane Helene, which impacted communities from the Gulf Coast to the Ohio Valley. For the latest weather alerts and updates, download the FOX Weather app and enable push article source: Know your flood terminology: What Flood Watches, Warnings and Emergencies really mean
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Catastrophic rainfall triggers Flash Flood Emergencies as severe weather outbreak drags into fourth day
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Life-threatening flooding and dangerous severe weather pummeled large swaths of the nation's heartland again Friday night for the third night in a row, and Saturday is shaping up to be just as bad, if not worse, for some areas with worries of heavy rainfall not seen in generations. In a sign of what could be yet to come for many this weekend, torrential rains stalled over southeastern Missouri and the Texarkana region of northeastern Texas and southwestern Arkansas on Friday night, triggering multiple Flash Flood Emergency warnings - the National Weather Service's most dire flooding alert. 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 Texarkana, where 2-4 inches of rain fell, and water rescues were ongoing. Texarkana police were responding to stranded motorists on Friday night across the Texas city during the Flash Flooding Emergency. "We're just gonna lay it out there … If you don't have a darn good reason for being out (like one that involves a visit to the emergency room), please stay home and off the roads!! This is not just another Friday night in Texarkana," the Texarkana Police Department wrote on Facebook. Flood Watch, Warning And Emergency: Here Are The Differences That Could Save Your Life Earlier in the day, officials in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, reported 60% of their downtown area was underwater. Meanwhile, dozens of Tornado Warnings wailed across the Lower Mississippi Valley and into northeastern Texas as a stalled frontal system spawned a renewed round of severe thunderstorms and super cells. Significant damage to structures was reported around Clarksville, Texas, but there were no immediate reports of injuries. Spotters reported to the National Weather Service office in Shreveport, Louisiana, that a bottling plant in Hawkins, Texas, was damaged by a nearby tornado strike. The tornado was part of a series of supercells tracked by National Weather Service meteorologists across East Texas. It followed nearly the same path as the twister that struck the plant in 2016. There have been no reports so far of any reports of injuries from Friday night's storms. But at least eight people have died from the multiple severe weather and flooding events through the week as a massive storm system remained stuck over the central U.S. A 9-year-old boy was killed Friday morning in Frankfort, Kentucky when he was swept away by floodwaters on his way to school. Seven others have died from tornadoes and severe storms -- five of them in Tennessee, according to state officials. Deadly Tornado Outbreak, Flooding Ravage Several States In Central Us The dire flooding threat stretches through the weekend. Repeating rounds of rainfall will lead to potentially historic amounts, particularly focused on the lower Ohio Valley, mid-South and Ozarks, according to the FOX Forecast Center. Storm total rain amounts of 5-15 inches are likely, and some locations may see up to 20 inches. Rainfall rates of 2 inches per hour or more will lead to rapid-onset flash flooding, leaving people caught off guard by the speed of water rise. Since Monday, over 9 inches of rain has fallen in Lewisburg, Kentucky, with just over 7 inches in Bowling Green, nearly 7 inches in Memphis and nearly 4 inches in Nashville. A category 4 risk for flash flooding – the highest level on the warning system – remains in effect for more than 5 million people through early Sunday morning. That includes large cities like Little Rock, Jonesboro, and Memphis. Nashville is just outside that zone in a level 3 flash flood risk. "Saturday is the day that concerns me the most right now," said Meteorologist Ryan Husted with the National Weather Service in Nashville. "Because we have time for our atmosphere to recharge, which means we have the potential for dangerous severe thunderstorms once again. In addition, our ground is saturated -- that means any rain that falls will run off and it's going to cause flooding. I'm very confident that Saturday is a dangerous day for flash flooding going into Saturday night." Flood Watches are in effect for nearly a 1,000-mile stretch that includes parts of 12 states. The amount of rain will also trigger flooding in areas that do not usually flood, according to NWS forecasters. In addition to flash flooding, extensive river flooding is feared. NOAA's Water Prediction Center has placed 45 rivers in the region forecast to reach major flood stage, with over 110 others expected to reach at least moderate flood stage. "Impacts from this event will be significant and may be historic," said meteorologists with NWS Paducah. Even long after the rain ends on Sunday, the flood impacts will be far from over. All the water will continue to surge into progressively larger streams and rivers across the region. These, in turn, will rise through the weekend and even into next week. Houses that did not flood when the rain was falling may find themselves underwater days later. As the water eventually drains into the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers in the days and weeks ahead, some flooding is likely downstream. Waters in Baton Rouge, Mississippi may reach the highest level in four years later this month, according to the FOX Forecast Center. As has also been the case much of the week, multiple rounds of severe storms producing damaging winds and a few tornadoes are forecast for Saturday and Saturday night from the Sabine Valley into the mid-Mississippi and Ohio Valleys. Some strong tornadoes (EF-2+), very large hail, and severe gusts above 70 mph will be possible. The day will be active right from the start, as storms line up from northeast Texas up into the Ohio Valley. Flooding rain, quarter-size hail, and a few 60+ mph wind gusts will be the primary concerns. As the day goes on, a notable risk of tornadoes will be in place across northern Louisiana, central Mississippi, and far northeast Texas. Finally, a notable increase in the threat for damaging non-tornadic winds will exist from western Tennessee down as far south as the Houston metro. Wind gusts from these storms may top 75 mph. Overall, NOAA's Storm Prediction Center has a large swath of the Lower Mississippi Valley into the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys – many of the same areas simultaneously under threat of historic flash flooding. The line of storms will charge across Mississippi and Louisiana overnight with primarily a damaging wind threat. A couple of tornadoes will be possible as well. Severe weather will continue into early on Sunday and move across parts of the Gulf Coast states and Tennessee article source: Catastrophic rainfall triggers Flash Flood Emergencies as severe weather outbreak drags into fourth day
