More than 30 million people at risk of flash flooding just weeks after deadly Texas floods
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.