States along a 1,000-mile swath through the central U.S. could see four months’ worth of rain in only five days this week, AccuWeather meteorologists warned.
Why It Matters
An atmospheric river is targeting parts of the Midwest and the South. Periods of heavy rainfall are expected to begin on Wednesday and continue through the weekend.
Atmospheric rivers are “long, narrow region in the atmosphere—like rivers in the sky—that transport most of the water vapor outside of the tropics,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The storms brought by atmospheric rivers are known for their heavy snow, heavy rain and strong winds. They more commonly affect the West Coast, particularly during the winter months.
What To Know
On Monday, AccuWeather published a report about the “conveyor belt of moisture,” which will bring hours of heavy rain from Wednesday to Saturday night from Arkansas through the Mississippi Valley and into the Ohio Valley.
The states at risk for the most rainfall, which could exceed a foot-and-a-half in some areas, include Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois and southern Indiana. The regions expecting up to 18 inches of rainfall, which could equate to four months’ worth of rain, include northeastern Arkansas, southeastern Missouri, northwestern Tennessee, western Kentucky, southern Illinois and southern Indiana.
This map from AccuWeather shows the states facing an extreme flood threat this week. This map from AccuWeather shows the states facing an extreme flood threat this week. AccuWeather
At times, rainfall rates could exceed several inches per hour, contributing to rapid flash flooding. More than a foot of rain could fall in some areas over the five days.
The incoming storm is a one-in-1,000-year event. An AccuWeather spokesperson told Newsweek that floods like this have a .1 percent chance of happening in any given year.
What People Are Saying
AccuWeather senior meteorologist Scott Homan told Newsweek: “It’s a pattern that bears watching and will cause significant flooding, if not life-threatening flooding, for some areas. For preparedness’s sake, monitor any warnings issued, make sure your cellphone is charged, and keep a radio handing in case power goes out.”
AccuWeather senior storm warning meteorologist William Clark said in the report: “That moisture plume, known as an atmospheric river, will be tropical in nature and originate from the Caribbean. Tropical moisture raises the risk of excessive rainfall.”
Clark added: “Should the amount of rain occur that we anticipate over the middle of the nation, it would exceed the 500 to 1,000-year average. Truly, the potential is there for a historic flash flooding event.”
What Happens Next
Rainfall begins on Wednesday. Flood watches issued by numerous National Weather Service (NWS) offices are already in effect across the region.
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