Damaging thunderstorms and tornadoes will not be the only threat to lives andproperty from the Ohio Valley to the lower Mississippi Valley this weekend.Heavy rain will trigger numerous additional flooding problems.
A slow-moving storm will tap into rich moisture from the Gulf of Mexico to drop2 to 4 inches of rain Saturday night into Sunday night from southwesternPennsylvania to Mississippi.
Within that zone, 4 to 6 inches will inundate places from Dayton, Ohio, toTupelo, Miss. Several places will even measure locally higher amounts.
The drenching rain is sure to trigger numerous flooding problems. Streams andsmall rivers will quickly rise out of their banks, inundating neighboringhomes, land and roads. Low-lying and urban areas will also rapidly becomesubmerged.
Several residents may be forced to evacuate their homes, while motorists shouldprepare for numerous road closures. This could include portions of Interstates24, 40, 65 and 75.
Do not put your life at risk by driving on flooded road. The roadway underneathmay be eroded or the current of the water could sweep away your vehicle. Thoseon foot should also never cross moving flood waters.
There is no question that the flooding situation across the western TennesseeValley will worsen and become more dangerous to residents into Sunday. Seriousflooding is already underway after Saturday's onslaught of torrentialrainfall.
Waverly, Tenn., measured 13.34 inches of rain from Friday night to Saturday,ending at 2 p.m. EDT. Flood waters completely submerged a Ford Explorer east ofBrighton, Tenn. Only the vehicle's luggage rack was visible.
