The National Weather Service (NWS) is warning that heavy rainfall could produce flash flooding across eight states, potentially impacting millions of people.
The NWS posted on Facebook on Sunday afternoon to alert people in California, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico of the risk amid “resurgent monsoon activity.”
Newsweek has reached out to the NWS via email Sunday during non-working hours for more information.
Why It Matters
Flash floods have occurred with growing frequency and severity across the United States this summer including New Mexico, North Carolina, New Jersey and Chicago.
Sunday’s warning from the agency comes as flash floods in multiple states, including the deadly flooding in Texas along the Guadalupe River, have left communities grappling to recover.
What To Know
A map shared by the NWS on Facebook showed a broad corridor of flash-flood risk spanning the Western states and Southern Plains.
The agency highlighted heavy rainfall as the primary threat and warned of potential flash floods in urban areas, low-lying roadways, streams and burn-scarred landscapes.
“Heavy showers and thunderstorms developing and expanding in coverage across southern CO and northern NM will pose a threat for flash flooding going into the early evening hours,” a post from NWS said on X on Sunday afternoon. “The area burn scar locations and normally dry washes will be most susceptible to impacts.”
At the national level, forecasters had explained that warm, moisture-laden air and slow-moving storm systems increased flash-flood risk during the summer months, a dynamic that had driven recent deadly events.
In the West, the risk for dangerous flash flooding increases in areas impacted by wildfires, as burn-scarred terrain can produce life-threatening flows of water after intense downpours.
What People Are Saying
The National Weather Service said in a post on Facebook Sunday: “Heavy rain could produce instances of flash flooding across parts of the Four Corners, Great Basin, Sierra Nevada and Central/Southern Plains amid resurgent monsoon activity. Extreme heat continues over portions of the Southwest and Pacific Northwest.”
Kody Wilson, a freelance meteorologist, posted on X: “At 1217 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. Emergency personnel have reported debris flows across County Road 5 [in Colorado]. Excessive rainfall over the burn scar will result in debris flow. The debris flow can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and other loose materials.”
What Happens Next?
Local NWS forecast offices will continue to monitor conditions and issue watches, warnings and more detailed forecasts.
Those living in the states impacted are advised to monitor forecast updates from their nearest NWS office and local emergency management authorities for real-time guidance.
The post Map Shows Flash Flooding Warning Issued for Eight States appeared first on Newsweek.
