Central US flash flooding threatens millions of residents

Heavy rainfall is spreading across a more than 700‑mile corridor from Nebraska to western Florida, prompting flash‑flood warnings for the Central and Southern United States. Southwest Oklahoma recorded over three inches of rain in just over an hour, and the risk extends to Kansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Alabama and the Gulf Coast. Authorities have issued a Level 2 flash‑flood alert covering areas from the Front Range to the Mid‑South, with cities such as St. Louis and Oklahoma City under severe threat.

The storm system is expected to persist through Thursday, with rain totals of one to two inches forecast for Friday. While the persistent rain raises flood concerns, it also brings much‑needed moisture to a region that has recently suffered extreme drought.