Organized Storms Threaten Flash Floods and Severe Weather Across Central U.S.

Overview

• Thunderstorm coverage is increasing across the central and southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley, and the WPC warns hourly rainfall of 1–2 inches with 3‑hour totals over 3 inches are possible in some locations.
• The SPC has flagged eastern Kansas and adjacent Plains for supercell development and placed areas there at roughly an 80 percent chance of watch issuance for large hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes.
• Operational radar and MRMS already recorded extreme rain rates exceeding 3 inches per hour near Talequah, Oklahoma, and earlier storms produced a measured 58‑kt gust at Dulles airport, confirming both flood and severe wind threats.
• Forecasters point to training and backbuilding storms driven by MCVs, outflow boundaries and a strengthening low‑level jet moving over saturated soils, which raises the odds of rapid runoff and urban or small‑basin flash flooding.
• Local NWS forecast offices and River Forecast Centers will issue watches and warnings as events evolve so residents should monitor local products, avoid flooded roads and be ready for sudden heavy rain or severe gusts.