2025-04-02 EVENT: OK/TX/LA/MO/IL/IN/OH/KY/MS/AL/TN/MI

[Jason N]

Yeah, I would bet that in the space and time of that much rain coming down in under 48hrs to the ground, you can expect in areas where tributary systems collide and where the Ohio runs into the Mississippi River, there will be some initial and delayed Major flooding effects from towns that line the areas along the river from Paducah to Memphis, and there are too many to name here.

 

[Matt Zumbrunn]

The BBC just published an article online that this synoptic event over the U.S. today will be a "once-in-a-generation" rainfall event, especially for KY/MO/TN. For those of you chasers who are watching the situation closely today, do agree with that assessment?

US storm forecast to unleash flooding rain and life-threatening tornadoes

The Flood watch says areas may see flood waters that have never or rarely seen them before.

 

[Jeff House]

Seeing a very rare occurrence this evening in eastern Arkansas. Supercells ahead of the line seem to have cut off the line. Typically they coexist at the least. Often the line absorbs the sups. Not tonight. Cross flow must be at just the right (wrong) angle. Line does not catch up to sups. The sups keep dropping tornadoes. Should be entering Tennesse as I type.

 

[Randy Zipser]

The Flood watch says areas may see flood waters that have never or rarely seen them before.
View attachment 26987

Thanks, Matt, for the post above. That's probably where the BBC got their information for the story they did, quoting the words "an event that happens once in a generation to once in a lifetime." I had no idea how "dire" this event potentially will become tomorrow through Friday. When I was the OK State Floodplain Coordinator in the 1980s, I do not recall ever seeing wording like that in public flood statements, only words like "100-year flood." Since that region of the country along the Mississippi River is relatively flat floodplain, the flooding could be worse and far-more costly than any other of the system's hazards (including the tornado outbreak ongoing tonight).

BTW, tomorrow marks the 51st anniversary of what the late Dr. Fujita called the "Super Outbreak." I recall that day well as a graduate-student at OU and intern at NSSL.

 

[Matt Zumbrunn]

Seeing a very rare occurrence this evening in eastern Arkansas. Supercells ahead of the line seem to have cut off the line. Typically they coexist at the least. Often the line absorbs the sups. Not tonight. Cross flow must be at just the right (wrong) angle. Line does not catch up to sups. The sups keep dropping tornadoes. Should be entering Tennesse as I type.

I was in awe at all the supercells out in front. I took this screenshot at 1802 cst.

 

[Randy Zipser]

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Thanks, Matt, for the post above. That's probably where the BBC got their information for the story they did, quoting the words "an event that happens once in a generation to once in a lifetime." I had no idea how "dire" this event potentially will become tomorrow through Friday. When I was the OK State Floodplain Coordinator in the 1980s, I do not recall ever seeing wording like that in public flood statements, only words like "100-year flood." Since that region of the country along the Mississippi River is relatively flat floodplain, the flooding could be worse and far-more costly than any other of the system's hazards (including the tornado outbreak ongoing tonight).

BTW, tomorrow marks the 51st anniversary of what the late Dr. Fujita called the "Super Outbreak." I recall that day well as a graduate-student at OU and intern at NSSL.

Even USA Today has now picked up on the "dire" predictions for historic flooding potential over the next couple of days. Please see link below:

Forecast calls for 'catastrophic' floods: Where will it rain the hardest?

If the inland flooding is as bad as is predicted, it will dominate media news over much of next week. Let's hope for the best!