Latest news with #FlashFloodWarnings
New York Post
16-07-2025
- Climate
- New York Post
Chicago, Denver under threat of severe storms packing large hail, damaging wind
A clash of air masses on Wednesday will result in the threat of severe storms from Milwaukee and Chicago westward to Denver and the eastern Rockies. The Storm Prediction Center has placed large parts of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Colorado under a 'slight' risk of severe storms – a Level 2 out of 5 on its severe storm scale. Cities such as Milwaukee, Chicago, Green Bay, Peoria, and Davenport are all included in the threat in the eastern zone, while Denver and Cheyenne are included in the western risk zone. The FOX Forecast Center says the greatest potential for severe storms will develop Wednesday afternoon and evening, as factors such as daytime heating and instability reach their peak. The stronger cells could produce hail, damaging wind, and even tornadoes, but the biggest threat will be gusty winds as the storms generally move from west to east. The threat of severe weather is expected to taper off between sunset and the overnight hours as the frontal boundary slowly moves through the region. In addition to the severe weather threat, dew points and precipitable water values are expected to be high, meaning any thunderstorm that develops will have the potential to drop 1-2 inches of rain in a short period, leading to a flash flooding threat. 4 A clash of air masses on Wednesday will result in the threat of severe storms from Milwaukee and Chicago westward to Denver and the eastern Rockies. AP Communities around Davenport, Iowa, and Chicago have already experienced significant flooding, with areas recently placed under Flash Flood Warnings and Flash Flood Emergencies. Just 6 inches of moving water can knock an adult off their feet, while a foot of floodwater can cause a vehicle to stall and float away. According to NOAA historical data, an average of 127 people die from flooding each year, with nearly half of those fatalities involving vehicles. 4 The FOX Forecast Center says the greatest potential for severe storms will develop Wednesday afternoon and evening, as factors such as daytime heating and instability reach their peak. FOX Weather 4 Authorities in the Windy City declared an 'Air Pollution Action Day' on Tuesday as particle and ozone levels were expected to reach the unhealthy range. X/NWSChicago In addition to providing some drought relief, the wet weather is expected to help clear the air of wildfire smoke that has lingered over the region. Air quality alerts were in effect before the arrival of the wet weather, as wildfires from Canada and daily pollution combined to produce unhealthy levels of ozone. Authorities in the Windy City declared an 'Air Pollution Action Day' on Tuesday as particle and ozone levels were expected to reach the unhealthy range. 4 In addition to the severe weather threat, dew points and precipitable water values are expected to be high, meaning any thunderstorm that develops will have the potential to drop 1-2 inches of rain in a short period, reports say. AP The National Weather Service encouraged children and sensitive adults to limit outdoor activities and spend time in a well-ventilated setting. Once the front moves through, it should bring more pleasant weather, with highs expected to reach only the 70s on Friday and 80s on Saturday before more wet weather moves in over the weekend and into next week.
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
North Carolina flooded as hurricane Chantal brings heavy rainfall, more than 5 million under alert
Heavy rainfall and flooding from the remnants of Tropical Storm Chantal forced dozens of people to flee their homes in central North Carolina, officials said, reported Fox 59. Many people in central North Carolina are dealing with the remnants of Tropical Depression Chantal, which brought heavy rainfall on Sunday night causing significant flooding across the region. More than 5 million people were under flood alerts in North Carolina and Virginia with nearly 2 million under Flash Flood Warnings after Chantal made landfall early Sunday, according to reports. The National Hurricane Center warned of flash flood concerns across parts of northern North Carolina late Sunday and Virginia into Monday. Life-threatening surf and rip currents are expected to continue at beaches from northeastern Florida to the mid-Atlantic states, the center said. ALSO READ: Tropical storm Chantal hurricane weakens but still poses big threat to North Carolina. NHC issues urgent travel warning by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo North Carolina flooding In many areas where floodwaters entered or threatened to enter apartments, the Chapel Hill Fire Department and neighboring agencies completed more than 50 water rescues, officials said. More than 60 people were displaced Sunday and Monday. Many roads are closed, and several counties are under Flash Flood Warnings, Flood Advisories, and Flood Watches until later Monday morning. Thousands were left without power after the storms. According to the Duke Energy outage map, thousands of customers across central North Carolina are without power after several storms that sparked warnings moved through. Live Events There were also water rescues at shopping centers, where water flooded businesses and parking lots, officials said. There were no reports of injuries as of Monday morning. Officials warned residents to take care as they ventured out Monday morning since crews were still assessing damage.
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
After Texas, now North Carolina is under water - several counties under flash flood warnings, thousands without power and water
North Carolina is now underwater, just days after Texas was hit by terrible floods. Tropical Depression Chantal swept through the state, leaving a trail of destruction. Several counties are in crisis mode, with emergency crews working around the clock to deal with road collapses, power outages, and tornado damage. What kind of damage did Chantal cause? The aftermath of Tropical Depression Chantal, which brought heavy rain on Sunday night and caused severe flooding throughout the region, is still affecting many people in central North Carolina, as per a report by ABC 11. Until later Monday morning, a number of counties are under Flood Advisories, Flood Watches, and Flash Flood Warnings, and many roads are closed. Following the storms, thousands of people lost power. Following multiple storms that prompted warnings, thousands of customers in central North Carolina are without power, according to the Duke Energy outage map, as per a report. Which areas were hit the hardest? Chatham, Lee, and Moore are just a few of the counties that have been given flood warnings. Moore County has declared a state of emergency, and rescue efforts are still going on. Moore County Live Events The Tropical Depression Chantal damaged a shopping center in Southern Pines and caused extensive flooding throughout Moore County. Around eight o'clock, the storm began, swiftly filling the parking lot and forcing evacuations. Due to inadequate drainage, the back lot of Southern Pines Planet Fitness turned into a wetland. A dam at the water reservoir at Longleaf Country Club failed, resulting in overflow in nearby ponds and creeks. Street signs were submerged, and a neighbour's trampoline washed away. Due to the extensive damage caused by the storm, Moore County Board of Commissioners Chair Kurt Cook proclaimed the county to be in a state of emergency until July 9. Chatham County With more than 100 roads impacted and a section of NC 902 closed as a result of heavy rain, Chatham County is currently experiencing severe flooding. Rescue personnel were overworked and are still looking for missing people, according to Sheriff Roberson. Authorities are warning locals to drive cautiously around flooded areas and to avoid doing so unless absolutely necessary. Lee County The storm's strong winds caused significant damage in Lee County, especially at the Raleigh Executive Jetport in Sanford, where two hangars and airplanes were affected by a potential tornado. A nearby mobile home park also experienced storm-related damage, including downed power lines and trees, though no residents were hurt. FAQs Which North Carolina counties are under flood warning? Chatham, Lee, and Moore counties were among the hardest hit, with Flash Flood Warnings, Advisories, and Watches in effect as of Monday morning. Is it safe to drive in central NC now? No, many roads are flooded or damaged. Authorities are urging residents to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary and to avoid driving through standing water.
Boston Globe
05-07-2025
- Climate
- Boston Globe
Texas officials face scrutiny over response to catastrophic and deadly flooding
The destructive fast-moving waters that began before sunrise Friday in the Texas Hill Country killed at least 32 people, authorities said Saturday, and an unknown number of people remained missing. Those still unaccounted for included 27 girls from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp along a river in Kerr County where most of the dead were recovered. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up But as authorities launch one of the largest search-and-rescue efforts in recent Texas history, they have come under intensifying scrutiny over preparations and why residents and youth summer camps that are dotted along the river were not alerted sooner or told to evacuate. Advertisement The National Weather Service sent out a series of flash flood warnings in the early hours Friday before issuing flash flood emergencies — a rare alert notifying of imminent danger. Local officials have insisted that no one saw the flood potential coming and have defended their actions. 'There's going to be a lot of finger-pointing, a lot of second-guessing and Monday morning quarterbacking,' said Republican U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, whose district includes Kerr County. 'There's a lot of people saying 'why' and 'how,' and I understand that.' Advertisement When the warnings began An initial flood watch — which generally urges residents to be weather aware — was issued by the local National Weather Service office at 1:18 p.m. local time on Thursday. It predicted rain amounts of between 5 to 7 inches (12.7 to 17.8 centimeters). Weather messaging from the office, including automated alerts delivered to mobile phones to people in threatened areas, grew increasingly ominous in the early morning hours of Friday, urging people to move to higher ground and evacuate flood-prone areas, said Jason Runyen, a meteorologist in the National Weather Service office. At 4:03 a.m., the office issued an urgent warning that raised the potential of catastrophic damage and a severe threat to human life. Jonathan Porter, the chief meteorologist at AccuWeather, a private weather forecasting company that uses National Weather Service data, said it appeared evacuations and other proactive measures could have been undertaken to reduce the risk of fatalities. 'People, businesses, and governments should take action based on Flash Flood Warnings that are issued, regardless of the rainfall amounts that have occurred or are forecast,' Porter said in a statement. Local officials have said they had not expected such an intense downpour that was the equivalent of months' worth of rain for the area. 'We know we get rains. We know the river rises,' said Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the county's top elected official. 'But nobody saw this coming.' Kelly said the county considered a flood warning system along the river that would have functioned like a tornado warning siren about six or seven years ago, before he was elected, but that the idea never got off the ground because of the expense. Advertisement 'We've looked into it before … The public reeled at the cost,' Kelly said. Hundreds of rescues Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Saturday that the massive response to the flooding had resulted in the rescue and recovery of more than 850 people, including some found clinging to trees. Scores of people in and along the river were airlifted to safety by helicopter, including girls at Camp Mystic. Kelly said he didn't know what kind of safety and evacuation plans the camps may have had. 'What I do know is the flood hit the camp first, and it came in the middle of the night. I don't know where the kids were,' he said. 'I don't know what kind of alarm systems they had. That will come out in time.' U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said Saturday it was difficult for forecasters to predict just how much rain would fall. She said the Trump administration would make it a priority to upgrade National Weather Service technology used to deliver warnings. 'We know that everyone wants more warning time, and that's why we're working to upgrade the technology that's been neglected for far too long to make sure families have as much advance notice as possible,' Noem said during a press conference with state and federal leaders. Weather service had extra staffers The National Weather Service office in New Braunfels, which delivers forecasts for Austin, San Antonio and the surrounding areas, had extra staff on duty during the storms, Runyen said. Where the office would typically have two forecasters on duty during clear weather, they had up to five on staff. Advertisement 'There were extra people in here that night, and that's typical in every weather service office — you staff up for an event and bring people in on overtime and hold people over,' Runyen said. Murphy reported from Oklahoma City.
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
