Severe Weather Threatens Central U.S. with Flash Floods and Tornadoes

Meteorologists have sounded the alarm for flash floods across north-central Texas, as many parts of the central U.S. brace for a series of thunderstorms expected to stir up tornadoes, prompt flash flooding, and unleash destructive hail the size of baseballs.

A flash flood warning has been declared for Dallas County and its surrounding regions, with forecasts predicting rainfall at a rate of 2 inches per hour. Already, by early April 23, around 2 inches of rain had swept across the metropolitan area, as reported by the National Weather Service.

“Flash flooding is already occurring or anticipated shortly,” the weather service announced in a recent advisory.

Throughout the week, repeated showers and thunderstorms are predicted to soak the Plains region, stretching up from northern Texas through Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois, according to the Weather Prediction Center.

“These thunderstorms pose hazards such as frequent lightning, fierce thunderstorm wind gusts, hail, and a few tornadoes,” the weather service noted. “Particularly, severe wind gusts and sizable hail will be the major threats in parts of the Central Plains, Middle Mississippi Valley, and the Great Lakes.”

These storm systems closely follow a severe weather outbreak over Easter Weekend, which spawned devastating tornadoes, toppled trees, and caused at least five fatalities in Oklahoma.

The expected rainfall, potentially reaching up to 6 inches in some central U.S. areas, may bring some relief to drought-stricken regions where wildfires continue to pose a significant threat.

The Plains are currently experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions, with areas like southwestern Texas enduring “extreme” and “exceptional” drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

“This year, total precipitation has been below the historical average for many locations across the Plains, including Wichita, Kansas, and Rapid City, South Dakota,” explained AccuWeather Meteorologist Haley Taylor in an online forecast.

Although this week’s rain won’t completely resolve the dry conditions, it may help alleviate local wildfire threats.

These impending storms are hitting the central U.S. as the region continues to deal with the aftermath of historic flooding caused by an earlier intense storm system in the first week of April, which deposited up to 16 inches of rain across sections of the Ohio, Tennessee, and Mississippi valleys, causing significant flooding throughout the central U.S.

While the runoff and notable river flooding have largely subsided in Ohio and Kentucky, downstream areas, including Baton Rouge, Louisiana, are expected to experience river crests toward the month’s end.

Numerous flood warnings and advisories remain active due to elevated river levels, including the Mississippi River in Memphis, Tennessee, and the Atchafalaya River in Morgan City, Louisiana.