Flooding Rain Inundates Parts of Kentucky, West Virginia; Severe Weather Threat
- A dangerous flash flood threat continues into early Monday.
- Over 100 reports of flooding have been received since early Sunday from Kentucky to western Maryland.
- Severe thunderstorms are also a threat.
Flooding rain and severe thunderstorms are pouding parts of the Ohio Valley and South as February exits with a bang and the calendar turns to March.
Dangerous flash flooding has already occurred in parts of the Ohio Valley and Appalachians, particularly in parts of Kentucky and West Virginia.
Widespread flooding, including flooding of homes and businesses and major highways, was reported in Murray, Kentucky, near the Tennessee state line about 90 miles west-northwest of Nashville.
Flooding in Todd County, Kentucky, prompted evacuations of several homes in the town of Elkton, where water was reportedly up to and under some structures. A rare flash flood emergency issued by the National Weather Service for this area.
A section of road was washed out in Graves County. At least one vehicle was trapped on a flooded street in Hopkinsville. A high school softball field was flooded in Booneville.
In West Virginia, a reservoir near the town of Hurricane overflowed onto Highway 34, roughly halfway between Charleston and Huntington. One motorist was rescued after driving into a flooded road near the town.
Water entered several homes and some secondary roads began to wash out in Pennsboro, West Virginia. Roads were blocked by up to 3 feet of water in Mineral County. Deckers Creek in Morgantown flooded a road Sunday afternoon.
A swift water rescue was reported south of Huntington, West Virginia, and at least one street was flooded in the city of Huntington.
Numerous roads were closed due to high water in Switzerland County, Indiana, and Pike County, Ohio.
Over 100 reports of flash flooding were received by the National Weather Service Sunday from Kentucky to western Maryland.
Meanwhile, severe thunderstorms flared up late Sunday morning in parts of the South. Hail up to ping-pong ball size was reported in Grayson County, Texas.
The map below shows the current active flash flood warnings, severe thunderstorm and tornado watches and warnings.
Current Radar, Severe Weather Watches and Warnings
Deep moisture ahead of an advancing cold front and jet-stream energy are all teaming up to produce this double threat of flooding and severe thunderstorms through early Monday morning.
(MORE: March Weather Has a Stormy Reputation)
Let’s take a closer look at each threat.
Flood Threat
The heaviest additional rain will fall through Monday morning in parts of Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, northern Louisiana, northern Mississippi and northern Alabama. Some of these areas may pick up an additional 3 inches of rain or more.
Rainfall Outlook
(This should be interpreted as a broad outlook of where the heaviest rain may fall.)
This additional rain, on top of what has already fallen, is likely to trigger additional flash flooding, particularly in hilly terrain, as well as minor, moderate and locally major river flooding.
The National Weather Service has issued flood watches from the lower Mississippi Valley to the Appalachians.
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