DENVER — The National Weather Service has issued or extended flood watches across parts of the central and eastern United States, with excessive rainfall and flash flooding possible in several states as additional rounds of thunderstorms move through areas already affected by heavy rain.
Flood watches covered portions of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and neighboring areas into Friday, according to National Weather Service advisories issued Thursday. In Iowa and Illinois, some watches were extended through Saturday morning as forecasters warned that repeated storms could produce additional runoff and flooding.
The National Weather Service in Quad Cities said flash flooding from excessive rainfall remained possible across parts of eastern Iowa and western Illinois, with watches extending from Thursday evening into Saturday morning. The agency advised residents to monitor forecasts and be prepared for possible flood warnings.
Other watches remained in effect in parts of Kentucky, where the National Weather Service said excessive rainfall could cause flash flooding through early Friday. Watches also covered portions of Colorado and several western states for localized flooding associated with heavy thunderstorms.
In Idaho, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for the Wapiti burn scar in the Sawtooth-Stanley Basin from Friday afternoon through Saturday evening. Another watch covered the Wapiti burn area in the Boise Mountains over the same period. Burn scars can be particularly vulnerable to rapid runoff and debris flows after heavy rainfall.
The latest watches come after severe storms produced flooding, tornadoes and damaging winds across parts of the Midwest earlier in the week. The storms affected Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia, with authorities conducting numerous water rescues in Ohio and western Pennsylvania. The Associated Press, citing officials and the National Weather Service, reported that flash flood watches had extended from Indiana into parts of Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee on Wednesday.
Ohio officials said flooding had blocked roads and complicated emergency responses, while Gov. Mike DeWine deployed Ohio National Guard personnel to assist with rescues and recovery. More than 650,000 customers across several Midwestern states were without power Wednesday afternoon, according to poweroutage.us data cited by AP.
Forecasters also warned of continuing severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall across parts of the Plains, Midwest, Ohio Valley and central Appalachians over the following days.
The National Weather Service advisories remain subject to change as storms develop, with local offices expected to issue flood warnings where flooding becomes imminent or is already occurring.
