Another wave of intense rainfall and flash floods on Saturday struck areas already impacted by days of severe storms in the Southern and Midwest regions, which produced lethal tornadoes. Meteorologists cautioned that rivers in certain areas will continue to rise over the next few days.
The heavy rainfall hit the central United States hard, leading to a rapid increase in water levels and triggering a series of flash flood emergencies from Texas to Ohio. The National Weather Service (NWS) anticipates that many locations across several states will reach significant flood stages, resulting in severe flooding of buildings, roads, bridges, and other vital infrastructure.
At least 16 fatalities related to weather events have been documented since the onset of the storm, with 10 occurring in Tennessee.
A 57-year-old individual died on Friday night after exiting a vehicle swept away by floodwaters in West Plains, Missouri. Two fatalities from Kentucky resulted from the flooding: a 9-year-old who was carried away on his way to school that same day, and a 74-year-old found deceased in a completely submerged car in Nelson County on Saturday, according to officials.
Also on Saturday, authorities reported a death connected to the weather in Little Rock, Arkansas, at a residence where the individual had lived for 5 years. No further details were provided at the time.
Earlier this week, a tornado ravaged an entire neighborhood, causing at least seven deaths.
Interstate trade is also facing disruptions. Severe flooding can impact corridors that include key cargo hubs in Louisville, Kentucky, and Memphis, resulting in delays in transportation and supply chains.
This surge coincides with nearly half of the NWS forecast offices experiencing a 20% vacancy rate following job cuts during the Trump administration.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg stated on Saturday that the Ohio River is projected to rise five feet within a day and will continue to increase for several days.
“We anticipate this will be among the top 10 flooding events in Louisville’s history,” he remarked.
Flash flood emergencies and tornado alerts persist in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee, accompanied by further heavy rainfall and damaging winds.
In northern Kentucky, emergency management officials mandated forced evacuations in Falmouth, a community of 2,000 residents, due to the rising Lime River. The warning echoed catastrophic flooding when the river hit a record 50 feet (15 meters) nearly 30 years ago, resulting in five deaths and the destruction of 1,000 homes.
In Arkansas, weather officials urged residents to avoid travel unless absolutely essential due to widespread flooding.
BNSF Railway confirmed the Mammoth Spring railway bridge was swept away by the flooding, causing some train cars to derail. No injuries were reported, and there are currently no estimates for when the bridge may reopen.
Since Wednesday, over a foot of rain (30.5 cm) has fallen in parts of Kentucky, while over 8 inches (20 cm) have been reported in sections of Arkansas and Missouri.
Officials have attributed this weather event to high temperatures, unstable atmospheric conditions, strong wind shear, and abundant moisture flow from the Gulf Coast.
At least two confirmed reports of tornadoes occurred in Missouri and Arkansas on Friday, according to the National Weather Service. Tornado-related debris measures reached at least 25,000 feet (7.6 km) near Briteville, Arkansas, noted NWS meteorologist Cherry Amin. The state emergency management office reported tornadoes, winds, and flash floods caused damage across 22 counties.
