Flash Flood Emergency in Missouri as 'generational flooding' swamps central US

Intense severe storms trigger extreme flash flood threat on Friday

Historic flash flooding is likely in the Mississippi Valley and Ohio Valley has already begun continuing through Saturday as training storms accompany the severe storm threat this week.

Fast Facts:

• Flash Flood Emergency covers part of southeastern Missouri as water rescues underway.
• A boy was killed in Kentucky after floodwater swept him away as he was heading to the bus stop. 
• NWS Memphis said: "This is not your average flood risk. Generational flooding with devastating impacts is possible."
• Rounds of storms dropped more than a foot of rain across the Mississippi and Ohio valleys.

VAN BUREN, Mo. – Life-threatening flash flooding returned to the Mississippi and Ohio valleys Friday night, amid what officials warn could be part of historic flooding for the region.

The National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Emergency - their most dire flooding alert - for the town of Van Buren, Missouri on Friday evening as torrential rains led to life-threatening flooding. 

FLOOD WATCH, WARNING AND EMERGENCY: HERE ARE THE DIFFERENCES THAT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE

Emergency managers reported water rescues ongoing in the city as 2 inches of rain fell in short order with more heavy rain falling.

"THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION," NWS officials in Paducah, Kentucky warned. "SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW!"

Flooding in West Plains, MO

(Missouri Division of Fire Safety / FOX Weather)

Highlighting the dangerous weather around the region, there were concurrent Tornado Warnings just 30-40 miles away.

The National Weather Service offices in Little Rock, Arkansas, and Paducah, Kentucky, have highlighted a particularly dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding situation.

Kentucky highway covered in floodwater

Floodwater covered all lanes of KY Parkway at Exit 124 in central Kentucky on Friday.

Transportation officials across the Bluegrass State shut down hundreds of roadways in response to the torrential rainfall.

Flooding claims life of 9-year-old boy in Kentucky

Parts of Tennessee and Kentucky have already been inundated ahead of the additional rain that is forecast.

Friday morning, police in Frankfort, Kentucky said a boy was swept away by floodwaters around 6:30 a.m. while he was on his way to the school bus stop in the Hickory Hills area of the city. He was found dead a few hours later. The Franklin County Coroner identified the boy as 9-year-old Gabriel Andrews. 

More than 8 inches of rain triggers flooding in Hopkinsville, Kentucky

Multiple homes and cars were flooded across parts of Hopkinsville, Kentucky as relentless storms dropped more than 8 inches of rain through Friday afternoon, with several more inches still in the forecast through the weekend.

Hopkinsville, Kentucky, was also flooded early Friday morning. City officials told FOX Weather that approximately 60% of the downtown was underwater, and a building had collapsed due to the heavy rain. A woman had to be rescued from floodwaters in her home and another from a car.

Hopkinsville City Councilwoman Brittanie Bogard told FOX Weather she hasn't seen flooding this bad in the city before.

Drone video showed much of that flooding remained Friday afternoon. More than 7 inches of rain has fallen in some city areas since Wednesday.

WATER RESCUES REPORTED IN NASHVILLE AS 'GENERATIONAL FLOODING' SLAMS REGION

Watch: Drone video shows extensive flooding across Hopkinsville, Kentucky

Drone video shows significant flooding in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. More than 7 inches of rain had fallen in some city areas since Wednesday.

Hopkinsville officials said that at least 12 people were rescued from flooding early Friday. Mayor James Knight Jr. said this is the worst flooding the town has endured in nearly a decade.

"We haven't seen it since ‘97, ’96, somewhere right there like that," Knight Jr. said during an interview with FOX Weather. "I've lived here all my life. It is something I hope to never see again."

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear issued a dire warning during his Thursday news conference.

"It's the decisions about when to get out, about what to drive through – when to go stay with someone else, that can be the difference between life and death over these next couple of days," he said.

Floodwaters surrounded some homes and inundated cars in Van Lear, Kentucky, prompting the rescue of six people, according to local rescue officials.

More than 7 inches of rain fell earlier this week in western Tennessee, and flooding has been reported in Nashville. In the early morning hours of Thursday, cars were seen stuck in floodwaters in South Nashville.

The Nashville Fire Department performed more than a dozen water rescues on Thursday. Due to flooding, numerous roads in the metro area were closed. By Thursday afternoon, creeks and rivers had already overflowed their banks in Memphis. 

Flooding hits Hopkinsville, Kentucky Friday morning

Hopkinsville, Kentucky was inundated Friday morning. Officials told FOX Weather at least two people have been rescued and more than half of downtown was flooded.

Nashville and Memphis both recorded daily rain records on Thursday. Nashville more than doubled its daily rain record with 3.8 inches of rain, shattering the old record of 1.5 inches from 1977. This was Music City's second-wettest April day on record. 

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee urged people to remain vigilant through the weekend and heed guidance from first responders and local officials.

LIVE STORM TRACKER: SEVERE WEATHER MAPS, FLOODING FORECASTS, RADARS AND MORE

Flooding hits central Tennessee as weather officials warn of severe thunderstorms

Flash flooding affected parts of central Tennessee on Thursday as the National Weather Service said that severe thunderstorms were moving across the region. This footage of a partially flooded road was captured by the Humphreys County Sheriff’s Office, who urged residents to avoid flooded roadways.

Flooding was also impacting Indiana, where officials in the City of Shelbyville and Shelby County were encouraging residents in low-lying areas to head to higher ground.

The nearby Big Blue River in Shelbyville was expected to reach at least major flood status over the weekend and peak just shy of the record of 20.2'.

Big Blue River status in Indiana.

(NOAA)

Life-threatening flash flooding threat extends through weekend

NOAA's Weather Prediction Center issued a Level 4 out of 4 flash flood threat Friday, covering parts of Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, models have been indicating rainfall totals of several inches, especially across Arkansas into western Kentucky. That is where 24-hour totals in excess of 5-8 inches could be realized in some places on top of rain that has already fallen.

Flood Watches also remain in place through Sunday for southern Illinois, southern Indiana and Ohio.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

---

 

The NWS office in Memphis issued this statement on Friday morning: "Total rainfall amounts through Sunday could exceed 10 to 15-inch range along and north of I-40. This is not your average flood risk. Generational flooding with devastating impacts is possible."

West, Middle Tennessee slammed by flash flooding

Torrential rains have caused rivers and creeks to overflow in parts of West and Middle Tennessee, as those areas will receive even more rain in the days to come. FOX Weather Meteorologist Kiyana Lewis reports from Memphis, Tennessee.

Flood Watches have been issued from northeastern Texas through central Ohio, stretching over 900 miles and affecting over 20 million Americans. The Level 4 out of 4 flash flood threat shifts east and expands Saturday to include the rain-fatigued areas of western Tennessee and western Kentucky.

WHY HIGH-RISK FLOOD DAYS ARE SO SERIOUS

---

 

"Saturday is the day that concerns me the most right now," said Meteorologist Ryan Husted with the National Weather Service in Nashville. "Because we have time for our atmosphere to recharge, which means we have the potential for dangerous severe thunderstorms once again. In addition, our ground is saturated -- that means any rain that falls will run off and it’s going to cause flooding. I’m very confident that Saturday is a dangerous day for flash flooding going into Saturday night."

Remember, it is never safe to drive through floodwater.

Missouri flash flooding

Creeks turned into rapids around Springfield, Missouri following heavy rainfall.