Flooding alerts in at least 11 states–particularly for the South, where there are evacuations, school closures, and power outages. Severe weather warning for the Northeast on Friday, plus weather news and the four-day forecast.
NWS weather alerts for Thursday
Here are Thursday’s weather alerts from the National Weather Service (NWS).
Flood warning: southeastern Arizona; southeastern New Mexico; southern and extreme western Texas; northern and northeastern South Dakota; central and southeastern Louisiana; central and southern Mississippi; central and southern Alabama; western Florida Panhandle.
Flash flood warning: southeastern Mississippi; central Alabama.
Flood watch: central Idaho; western Montana; southern California; eastern Texas; southwest, northeast, and southeast Louisiana; central and southern Mississippi; central and southern Alabama; western Florida Panhandle.
Heat advisory: western Washington.
Severe weather in Northeast on Friday
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued a Level 2 severe weather risk for parts of the Northeast on Friday. The areas under threat include Eastern New York, eastern and northern Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, and southwestern Maine. The main threats are damaging winds, with a low risk of hail and a very low risk of a tornado.
Flooding leads to evacuations, school closures, power outages, and road collapse
Schools around Alabama dismissed students early on Thursday due to power outages and a range of other problems related to flooding, Fox 10 reported.
Flooding was also causing problems on Interstate 10 near the Mississippi-Alabama state line, including delays and leading to the closure of a rest area, the Sun-Herald reported.
In Mississippi, flooding hit homes in the central part of the state, and emergency responders evacuated a nursing home in Brandon, CNN reported.
Flooding wipes out part of I-10 in Southern California
A stretch of Interstate 10 in Southern California between Desert Center and Blythe was completely washed away in flash flooding on Wednesday. Drivers were urged to find alternative eastbound roots toward Arizona, Patch reported, as more storms are forecast for Thursday afternoon. Crews managed to open a single lane.
The weekend forecast: Thunderstorms, flooding, severe weather
Here is the four-day forecast from the National Weather Service (NWS).
Thursday: Thunderstorms, flooding on 3 fronts
Forecasts predict scattered thunderstorms across the nation, mainly concentrated over the northern and southern tiers of the Lower 48. The threat of flash flooding remains on three fronts. In the northwest, expect heavy rain with potential flooding over parts of Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. In the upper Midwest, expect potential flooding over North and South Dakota. In the South, there may be flooding over Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. (See alerts above).
Friday: Scattered thunderstorms, severe weather in Northeast
Scattered thunderstorms over parts of the northern tier, Southwest, South, and most of the eastern half of the nation.
Potential severe weather in the Northeast (see report above).
Saturday: Fewer scattered thunderstorms
A significant portion of the nation will see relief from thunderstorms. However, storms will still be prevalent over parts of the West and Southwest, throughout the South and Southeast, as well as into parts of the Midwest and upper Midwest around the Great Lakes. The Ohio Valley, mid-Atlantic, and Northeast will be clear.
Sunday: Thunderstorms move east
Much of the West will see relief from thunderstorms, with the exception of the Southwest over parts of Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. Most of the thunderstorm activity will be concentrated over the central US. It will be especially heavy over the South and Southeast. Heavy rain with potential flash flooding is possible along the central Louisiana coast, as well as central and southern Florida. The weather will be mostly dry for the mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
