Severe Storms Forecast to Bring Flash Flood Risk Across Multiple U.S. Regions This Weekend

Severe thunderstorms are forecast to sweep across large patches of the United States this weekend, with risks of flash floods in some areas, according to a new AccuWeather report. As thunderstorms and heavy rain is forecast for parts of the Great Plains to the Mid-Atlantic coast, AccuWeather has warned that some localized areas may experience flash floods.

Flash floods are the most dangerous kind of floods that happen when rain falls faster than the ground can absorb the water.

A region spanning from eastern Colorado and southeastern Wyoming through to northeastern New Mexico, as well as much of Kansas, western Kentucky and Tennessee, will be at risk of flash floods on Friday afternoon and into the night. The area is expected to have severe thunderstorms and localized wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph, with some risk of tornadoes as well.

Parts of North Carolina, southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey are also set to face similar thunderstorms on Friday afternoon and evening, with wind gusts of 55 to 65 mph. As the severe weather continues over the weekend, northeastern Georgia and much of Virginia are expected to experience thunderstorms on Saturday afternoon and night, with the potential for flash floods in some areas.

By Sunday, the severe-weather threat is forecast to travel further south, reaching from northern Louisiana through portions of Mississippi and Alabama, and east into much of Georgia and the Carolinas. Repeated rounds of heavy downpours could significantly increase flash-flood risks, and wind gusts are expected to reach up to 60 mph.

Service has also issued flood watches and warnings for a number of states ahead of this weekend's severe weather. Iowa has a flood warning active for Shell Rock River at Shell Rock affecting Butler, Black Hawk and Bremer counties until Saturday morning.