US Weather: Flood Warnings Up In 7 States; Extensive Flooding Possible In Midwest

Multiple flood-related advisories have been issued as weather forecasters warn of significant flooding across the Midwest over the weekend. Heavy rain and strong winds are expected as another storm system approaches the United States from the Southern Plains.

"Flooding is definitely going to be a very big concern going forward, with some very large rain totals," the Weather Channel (TWC) meteorologist Danielle Banks said Wednesday. Banks added that rain will continue "past Friday evening."

"Multi-inch rainfall totals are possible from the Ohio Valley into the mid-Mississippi Valley and mid-South Thursday and Friday," which could produce flash flooding in affected areas, TWC reported.

"The associated heavy rain in parts of the western Ohio Valley and middle/lower Mississippi Valley will create localized flash flooding, affecting areas that experience rapid runoff with heavy rain," the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) said in a report Wednesday. A runoff happens when the ground can no longer absorb more water due to excessive precipitation.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued flood watches, effective through Saturday, amid concerns that the weather may turn severe, particularly in north-central Indiana, CBS-affiliated WTTV reported.

Rainfall totals are expected to reach up to four inches in Indiana through Saturday. The highest rain accumulations are expected in southern and south-central Indiana.

In Oklahoma, parts of Tulsa are expected to get up to four inches of rain through Saturday. The highest probability of severe storms is expected across south-central Oklahoma, the NWS said.

In Missouri, flooding is expected in "many" creeks, streams and rivers across the state. Weather officials are expecting flooding to occur in the Black, Big, Meramec, Kaskaskia and Bourbeuse Rivers.

Forecasters in Ohio warned of up to three inches of rain in Wilmington, Cincinnati, Butler, Dayton, Richmond, Osgood, Brookville, Carrollton and Sardinia.

Forecasters are expecting some thunderstorms in Kentucky Friday, which could result in minor flooding and some flash flooding.

In Tennessee, the main threat is the possibility of straight-line winds and heavy rainfall hitting the state late Friday.

Straight-line winds, like tornadoes, come from thunderstorms, but they do not have a rotating movement, unlike tornadoes. The NWS noted that "most years there are far more damage reports from thunderstorm straight line winds than from tornadoes."

Indiana flood alerts

Flood watch effective from Thursday evening through late Friday night:

• Vanderburgh, Posey, Gibson, Warrick, Spencer and Pike

Flood watch effective from Thursday evening through Saturday morning:

• Bartholomew, Decatur, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Marion, Morgan, Rush and Shelby in central Indiana
• Henry in east central Indiana
• Jennings in southeast Indiana
• Brown, Jackson, Monroe and Lawrence in south-central Indiana
• Daviess, Martin, Greene, Knox and Sullivan in southwest Indiana
• Vigo, Clay, Putnam and Owen in west-central Indiana

Flood watch effective from Thursday evening through Saturday afternoon:

• Dearborn, Franklin and Fayette
• Floyd, Orange Clark, Washington, Scott, Perry, Harrison, Crawford, Floyd, Dubois and Jefferson

Oklahoma flood alerts

Flood watch effective from Thursday afternoon through Friday evening:

• Adair, Cherokee, Craig, Wagoner, Tulsa, Sequoyah, Rogers, Ottawa, Creek, Delaware, Muskogee, Okfuskee, Mayes, Okmulgee and McIntosh

Flood watch effective from Thursday afternoon through Friday morning:

• Cleveland, Pottawatomie, Lincoln, Oklahoma and Seminole

Missouri flood alerts

Flood watch effective from Friday morning through 5 p.m. Saturday:

• Roubidoux Creek near Waynesville (flood stage of 7 feet may be reached Friday morning)

Flood watch effective from Friday evening through 5:30 p.m. Sunday:

• Gasconade River at Hazelgreen (flood stage of 21 feet may be reached late Friday evening)

Flood watch effective from Thursday afternoon through late Friday night:

• Barry, Christian, Dade, Dent, Douglas, Greene, Oregon, McDonald, Newton, Lawrence, Jasper, Ozark, Phelps, Shannon, Stone, Taney, Texas, Webster and Wright

Flood watch effective from Thursday evening through late Friday night:

• Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Wayne, Stoddard, Ripley, New Madrid, Carter and Scott
• Dunklin, Pemiscot, Iron, Reynolds, and Madison

Ohio flood alert

Flood watch effective from Thursday evening through Saturday afternoon:

• Clermont, Preble, Warren, Greene, Hamilton, Clinton, Butler and Montgomery

Illinois flood alerts

Flood warning effective from Friday evening through Thursday, March 30:

• Embarras River at Lawrenceville (at a flood stage of 30 feet, the river may crest at 35.1 feet early Sunday morning)

Flood warnings effective until further notice:

• Little Wabash River below Clay City (at a flood stage of 18 feet, the river may crest at 21.7 feet Saturday evening)
• Illinois River at Beardstown affecting Cass, Schuyler, Morgan and Brown Counties
• Illinois River near Havana affecting Mason and Fulton Counties
• Little Wabash River at Carmi (river may exceed flood stage of 27 feet to 31.9 feet Wednesday morning)

Kentucky flood alerts

Flood watches effective from Thursday evening through 5 p.m. Saturday:

• Boone, Campbell, Gallatin, Bracken, Carroll, Kenton, Grant, Pendleton, Owen and Robertson
• Anderson, Breckinridge, Fayette, Bourbon, Franklin, Bullitt, Hardin, Jefferson, Henry, Harrison, Meade, Nicholas, Nelson, Oldham, Trimble, Woodford and Spencer

Flood watch effective from Thursday evening through late Friday night:

• Crittenden, Livingston, Ballard, Carlisle, Henderson, McCracken, Union, Daviess and McLean

Tennessee weather alert

Hydrologic outlook issued Wednesday night:

• Heavy rain and potential flooding possible from Thursday through Friday night for parts of extreme northwest Tennessee