Urgent Flash Flood Warning: See If Your Area Is in the Path & How to Protect Yourself Now

Millions under flash flood warning as storms drench Memorial Day weekend H2: Warnings stretch from Texas to Florida The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued flash-flood warnings and watches for portions of northeastern Texas, northern Louisiana, southern Arkansas and central Mississippi after training thunderstorms dumped 2–4 inches of rain in just a few hours and could double that total before midnight. Farther east, new warnings were posted for Brevard and Volusia counties along Florida’s Atlantic coast, where radar estimates already show more than 3 inches of rainfall and storms continue to back-build over the same communities. H2: Why the risk is so high today • A slow-moving upper-level low is funneling Gulf moisture into the South, creating repeated rounds of thunderstorms over saturated ground. • Urban areas with poor drainage, low-lying rural roads, and small streams are most vulnerable to a sudden water rise. • Soil moisture is already above average after a wetter-than-normal spring, leaving little capacity to absorb new rain. H2: What the warnings mean A flash flood warning is issued when flooding is imminent or already occurring—often within minutes of heavy rain developing. Residents in the warned areas should: 1. Move immediately to higher ground; never wait for visible water. 2. Avoid walking or driving across flooded roads; “Turn Around, Don’t Drown.” 3. Monitor NOAA Weather Radio, local TV, or smartphone alerts for potential evacuations. H2: Hour-by-hour outlook • Evening: Additional storms fire along a stalled front from Shreveport to Jackson with rainfall rates up to 3 in/hr. • Overnight: Convective complexes drift toward Alabama and Georgia, expanding the flash-flood threat after dark when danger is harder to spot. • Monday morning: Storms shift into the Carolinas but lingering downpours could still trigger new warnings for coastal Florida and southeast Georgia. H2: Travel impact for the holiday The heavy rain arrives at the peak of Memorial Day travel. Expect intermittent closures on portions of I-20, I-10, and U.S. Highway 90 due to water over the roadway. Airports in Dallas, Houston, and Orlando report growing ground delays as pilots wait out the worst cells. H2: Emergency officials urge quick action Louisiana’s Office of Homeland Security reminds residents that just 12 inches of fast-moving water can sweep away a vehicle; two feet can carry off an SUV. In Florida, Volusia County emergency managers have pre-positioned high-water rescue vehicles near Daytona Beach as coastal flooding coincides with an afternoon high tide. H2: How to prepare now • Charge phones and portable batteries in case of power outages. • Pack a go-bag with prescriptions, important documents, and a change of clothes. • Keep gutters, storm drains, and culverts clear to reduce neighborhood flooding. • Check on elderly neighbors and those in flood-prone manufactured homes. H2: Looking ahead Models show the slow-moving low easing north by Tuesday, but another surge of Gulf moisture could bring additional 1–3 inches of rain Wednesday. If soils do not dry, renewed flash-flood warnings are possible mid-week. Stay weather-aware, have multiple ways to receive alerts, and be ready to act the moment a flash flood warning is issued.