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New York Times
16 hours ago
- Climate
- New York Times
Heavy Rains and Flash Floods Threaten Midwest and Ohio Valley
Severe, slow-moving storms are expected to sweep across Illinois and Indiana on Sunday, with some areas potentially getting up to 11 inches of rainfall, significantly raising the risk of flash flooding, forecasters said. The threat stems from a cold front moving into the region, particularly in the afternoon, and stalling there, creating conditions for repeated rounds of storms that could unload torrential rains. The Weather Prediction Center has issued a Level 3 out of 4 risk for excessive rainfall across central Illinois. The center said rainfall rates could reach three to four inches per hour, and up to eight inches in some areas. Frank Pereira, a meteorologist at the Weather Prediction Center, said that a significant amount of atmospheric moisture was contributing to the risk of intense rainfall. 'Typically during the summer, we get warm humid air masses,' he said. 'But this is on the higher end of that.' A Level 2 out of 4 risk for flash flooding extended from eastern Iowa and northern Missouri to western West Virginia and as far south as northeast Georgia and western North Carolina. Much of this region was under multiple flood watches on Sunday. Damaging winds, hail, tornadoes and other types of severe weather were also a concern. The Storm Prediction Center placed central Illinois, Central Indiana, southern Ohio, northern Kentucky and southeastern West Virginia under a Level 2 out of 5 risk for severe storms on Sunday. The main threats included strong, potentially damaging winds and isolated hail. There was a low risk for tornadoes. The risk of flash flooding was expected to persist into the week. 'Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, there's a concern the storms in those areas may be impacted by more additional heavy rains going into Monday,' Mr. Pereira said. 'So if you get back-to-back or repeated storms, that could really elevate flooding concerns.' The Weather Prediction Center has issued a Level 2 out of 4 risk on Monday for excessive rainfall across those states, as well as for southwestern West Virginia and the far west of Virginia. The ground will already be saturated from Sunday's storms, forecasters said, and additional rainfall could reach up to three inches an hour, and locally as much as five inches, causing conditions ripe for flash flooding.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Climate
- USA Today
Ex-tropical disturbance could still unleash flooding rains over Louisiana's coast
A former tropical disturbance being watched by hurricane forecasters failed to form into a tropical depression before reaching the Louisiana coast, but it still threatens downpours and flash flooding as it marches inland on July 18, forecasters said. The system, previously called Invest 93L, is already causing thunderstorms and scattered showers just southwest of New Orleans, the Storm Prediction Center said. Flood watches blanket much of the southern half of Louisiana through midday July 19, according to the National Weather Service. The risk for excessive rainfall and flash flooding from this system is highest along the I-10/12 corridor and south of it, the weather service office in New Orleans said. Flooding concerns extend along the coastal plain from Houston, Texas, to Pensacola, Florida, forecasters said. Downpours with rainfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour could lead to ponding of water in areas that are low-lying and have poor drainage, leading to flooding of some roads, the weather service said. In areas with the heaviest rainfall, some structures could also become flooded. The risk of rain continues through the weekend, but the flash flooding threat over the weekend will depend on how much total rain falls between July 17 and 18, the weather service in New Orleans said. "Even a poorly organized tropical rainstorm can still produce localized torrential downpours that can lead to incidents of dangerous flash flooding," AccuWeather said. The Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1 and will last through the end of November. Active hurricane weather typically peaks between mid-August and mid-October.
New York Post
5 days ago
- 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.
New York Times
09-07-2025
- Climate
- New York Times
Why Forecasting Thunderstorms Is Still So Hard
Thunderstorms can develop suddenly, transforming calm skies into scenes of heavy rain, fierce winds and dangerous lightning. And while the United States is no stranger to this weather phenomena, predicting when and where a thunderstorm will strike remains one of the most difficult challenges in meteorology, despite major advances in forecasting technology. Unlike larger weather systems, such as hurricanes or winter storms, which can be tracked over hundreds of miles and several days, thunderstorms tend to be hyperlocal and short-lived. Bill Bunting, deputy director at the federal Storm Prediction Center, said their unpredictability stems from their complexity and size. Forecasters often know up to a week in advance if conditions are likely to be favorable for thunderstorms, but their ability to pinpoint exactly where and when those thunderstorms kick off is much more limited. In Texas, they knew July 4 could feature severe thunderstorms, but it wasn't until just a few hours before heavy rain began to inundate the area around the Guadalupe River that their exact effects became clear. 'Thunderstorms are among the smallest and shortest-lived forms of hazardous weather in the U.S.,' Mr. Bunting said. 'They're typically five to 15 miles in diameter and last 30 minutes to a few hours.' Thunderstorms can occur nationwide, and at any time, 'day or night, throughout the entire year,' the National Weather Service says, but they are most common in the late afternoon and evening during the warm months. To understand the difficulty of forecasting thunderstorms, it helps to understand the different types, as well as how they form. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Economic Times
06-07-2025
- Climate
- Economic Times
Texas floods, weather forecast latest updates: Flash floods, heavy rains predicted on Monday by Met officials. Details here
Guadalupe River reached 29.45 feet -- its second highest level on record, surpassing the levels that led to the devastating flood of 1987 in the same area, according to the weather service. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads FAQs Several more inches of rain were expected Sunday in areas of central Texas devastated by flooding over the weekend, forecasters said. Up to 4 inches could fall, with isolated areas potentially receiving up to 10 inches through Monday, according to the National Weather Service. The weather service's Storm Prediction Center placed a Level 2 out of 4 risk for flash floods over portions of north and central Texas and the Hill Country through Monday afternoon. Further rounds of heavy rain were expected at the beginning of the week before drier conditions develop. The flooding that began Friday was triggered by a combination of a moist tropical air mass -- the remnants of Tropical Storm Barry -- and a slow-moving storm system, which together fueled powerful Runyen, a meteorologist at the weather service's office for Austin, San Antonio and the surrounding areas, said that while river levels across the region had receded, more rain could exacerbate flooding in the area. Flash flooding in the region killed more than 50 people over the weekend, with dozens more missing, NYT News Service deluge caused rivers in the region to rise to major flood stages. The Guadalupe River reached 29.45 feet -- its second highest level on record, surpassing the levels that led to the devastating flood of 1987 in the same area, according to the weather service. The actual river levels this weekend might have been even higher than recorded, however, according to Runyen, who said that the river gauge was "washed out" during the the storms, the weather service issued a broad flood watch for parts of south-central Texas, including Kerr County, specifying the possibility of rainfall totals up to 3 inches and isolated amounts of 5 to 7 inches. But for some areas, the actual totals far exceeded those officials appeared to blame the weather service for forecasts on Wednesday that underestimated the amount of rain that was coming. Former weather service officials have said that the forecasts were as good as could be expected, given the way the storms escalated and the remarkable levels of rainfall. Some experts questioned whether staffing shortages at the weather service also made it harder for the forecasting agency to coordinate with local emergency managers as floodwaters rose.A1. There will be more rains predicted in Texas throughout Monday.A2. Guadalupe River reached 29.45 feet -- its second highest level on record, surpassing the levels that led to the devastating flood of 1987 in the same area, according to the weather service.
