Millions under flood watches and heat wave warnings across U.S.
Some Americans are already waking up to storms as 17 million are under flood alerts across the Gulf Coast and separately in the Mid-Atlantic.
Heavy downpours already hit overnight, drenching Arkansas, Florida and Louisiana up to the Midwest. In Washington County, Indiana, an empty RV camper was swept away in flood waters on Thursday. In Uvalde, Texas, a person died and their body was located Thursday after the vehicle they were in got swept away in flood waters off Ranch Road 187.
Kansas City, Missouri, saw a month's worth of rain in just a few hours that turned creeks into raging torrents of water, washing away property and submerging vehicles. The city area received between five to eight inches of rain in the last 36 hours, prompting 23 high-water rescues of people trapped in their vehicles, the local fire department said Thursday.
Meanwhile Ruidoso, New Mexico, where three died in historic flash floods more than a week ago, is reeling with more rapidly rising flood waters.
Today, along the Gulf Coast heavy rain associated with tropical moisture is pinwheeling across parts of eastern Texas, southern Louisiana and coastal Mississippi and Alabama.
Thunderstorms with rainfall rates of two to three inches an hour could produce flooding for New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles in Louisiana; Beaumont, Texas; Biloxi, Mississippi; Mobile, Alabama; and Pensacola, Florida.
In the Mid-Atlantic, flood watches are up across eastern Kentucky, southern Ohio and much of West Virginia and Virginia, as well as northern portions of Tennessee and North Carolina.
The area most likely to experience flooding today is Shenandoah Valley of Virginia where rainfall rates of three inches an hour over saturated oil could cause rapid and sudden flash flooding in urban areas and around creeks and streams.
This weekend, flood risk will turn to the Midwest, Ohio Valley and the Appalachians with cities to watch for flooding including Chicago, Indianapolis, Louisville, St. Louis, Cincinnati, and Columbus, Ohio; Nashville, and Charleston, West Virginia.
Power company PSE&G, which supplies New Jersey and parts of New York, told customers its preparing crews to help restore powers in storms, especially with the heat.
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein also declared a state of emergency in 13 counties on Thursday due to tropical storm Chantal 's flooding.
Sweltering heat will also ramp up this weekend with 19 million under heat alerts across parts of the mid-Atlantic, southern Florida and the Mississippi Valley.
Cities under heat alerts include Raleigh, North Carolina; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Miami, Florida; Paducah, Kentucky; Memphis, Tennessee and Little Rock, Arkansas.
Miami will experience feel temperature highs of 91 today and tomorrow, and 92 on Sunday, with a maximum heat index of 103. Raleigh will see highs of 94 today, and 95 on Saturday and Sunday with a maximum heat index of 106. Little Rock will see highs of 97 today, 96 tomorrow and 97 Sunday, with a maximum heat index of 110.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Warning issued in 27 states over heat dome
A heat dome is scorching 27 states this week, forcing over 130 million Americans to stay indoors and avoid strenuous work as temperatures reach such extremes some cities are now hotter than the Sahara Desert. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued heat advisories and excessive heat warnings for dangerous temperatures stretching from Texas to the Northeast. According to AccuWeather, the worst of the heat is building across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, and Oklahoma, where temperatures are expected to reach 110 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Cities like Shreveport, Memphis, and Little Rock are expected to see some of the most dangerous conditions through the weekend. In West Virginia, the NWS has issued an Extreme Heat Watch for Friday, with a predicted heat index of 108, which is hotter than the Sahara Desert, where temperatures Thursday are expected to hover near 84 degrees. Officials said the combination of scorching days and warm, humid nights pose the highest risk of heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. 'Heat-related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events,' the NWS warned in an alert. Local emergency agencies recommended staying inside during peak heat hours, typically 11am to 8pm, drink more water than usual, wear light clothes, and avoid strenuous outdoor work. Cooling centers have been opened in several cities to help people beat the heat. 'Never leave children or pets in vehicles. Car interiors can reach lethal temperatures in minutes,' NWS officials warned. Adam Douty, a senior meteorologist with AccuWeather, told USA Today the country has already dealt with average temperatures one to three degrees above normal this summer. 'And it's going to feel a lot warmer than it actually is because of the humidity,' he said. A heat dome works like a lid. High pressure builds overhead, trapping hot air at the surface, suppressing clouds, and intensifying sunlight. It also pulls moist air from the Gulf of Mexico, cranking up humidity across entire regions. This dome, now centered over the Southern Plains, is expanding north and east. Little Rock, Memphis, and Dallas have already crossed the 110-degree mark, with overnight lows staying around 80. 'For those that only have a fan or open window to keep cool, it is not enough,' he added. According to AccuWeather report, this week Oklahoma City, Little Rock, and Wichita just saw their first 100-degree days of the year. The Midwest, Ohio Valley, and Northeast are now bracing for the same. On Friday, heat index values are expected to soar to between 105 and 115 degrees in cities like Boston, Cleveland , Washington, DC, Indianapolis, and Charleston, West Virginia. In the Midwest, the heat dome's humidity has been amplified by 'corn sweat, ' the moisture evaporating from large fields of crops in states like Iowa and Illinois. The phenomenon pushes dew points higher, making the air feel even heavier and more oppressive. According to The Weather Channel, Philadelphia and New York City could reach highs in the mid-90s on Friday , and heat index values may be as high as 105 along the I-95 corridor from Washington DC through Baltimore. The South, meanwhile, is locked into a stretch of upper 90s to low 100s that could stretch well into next week. Scattered afternoon storms may also pop up in places like the Midwest and Ohio Valley, bringing deadly flash floods and damaging winds . Parts of Missouri, Indiana, and Tennessee may see heat indices near 115 through the weekend, according to AccuWeather. 'At this level, it can be dangerous for many people who are exposed to the heat for an extended period of time,' Anderson warned.
The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
Heat wave is expected to bring high temperatures to parts of the South and Midwest
A new 'heat dome' is forecast to bring triple-digit temperatures to over 100 million Americans in the coming days. The severe heat will primarily affect the Midwest and Southern US, including parts of Nebraska, Missouri, Texas, and Louisiana, with daytime temperatures expected to exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. This weather phenomenon, caused by a high-pressure area trapping warm air, is anticipated to persist through the end of July. The current heatwave follows similar extreme conditions experienced on the East Coast last month, where cities like New York and Boston recorded triple-digit temperatures. The intense heat is expected to hinder manual labor jobs and impact athletic training, while the Northeast will experience a temporary respite.
The Independent
19-07-2025
- The Independent
Heavy rain threatens flash flooding across 11 states
More than 30 million Americans face a significant threat of dangerous flash flooding across 11 states, including the Midwest, Ohio Valley, and Appalachians, from this weekend into next week. The flooding is attributed to a tropical rainstorm, which, though not expected to become a named storm, will bring substantial moisture northward from the Gulf Coast. Forecasts predict 2 to 4 inches of rain from Iowa to the Appalachians, with some localized areas potentially receiving as much as 13 inches, leading to pockets of severe flash flooding. This weather event follows recent major flooding in Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, and deadly flash floods in Texas, contributing to a year when flash flood reports are 70 percent above the historical average. Experts link the increased frequency of extreme rainfall and flooding events, including '1,000-year floods,' to human-caused climate change, as a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture.
