New Mexico, Flash flood
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Texas, Death toll and flash floods
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Flash flooding is occurring in Chicago
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More than 111 people have died across six counties after flash flooding from heavy rain began affecting the state last week.
With the recent deadly flash floods in Texas and New Mexico, it's important to remember that monsoon season has begun for the southwestern part of our country and flooding is one of the hazards that comes along with it.
A flash flood is a rapid rise of water along a stream or in a low-lying urban area, the National Weather Service said. Flash flooding can result from slow-moving thunderstorms, from numerous thunderstorms that develop repeatedly over the same area, or from heavy rains associated with tropical cyclones.
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Back-to-back flooding disasters in recent years — in Texas, New Mexico and Kentucky, among many others — have showed that preparing for flash flooding is a new necessity as the planet warms.
Recent flash flooding in Texas, New Mexico and North Carolina is highlighting the extreme danger of these natural disasters and the need to be prepared.
There are reports some cloud seeding occurred a few days before the Texas flash flood. But it’s important to understand that cloud seeding has a relatively short-term effect in that a certain cloud is seeded and perhaps turns into one individual rain cloud or even a thunderstorm. The increased rainfall would not last for days.
A map from AccuWeather warned that the highest-risk areas for flash flooding are Southern New Jersey, Southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, much of Maryland, Eastern and Central Virginia and Northern North Carolina. Downpours associated with the storms could be severe enough to cause travel disruptions and flash floods, the map said.
A flash flood warning has been issued for Dallas and Kaufman counties until 9:45 p.m.A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of Tarrant County through 9 p.m. We've dealt with a couple of strong afternoon/evening thunderstorms across North Texas the last couple of days,
Major I-95 cities -- Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Virginia -- could be impacted as heavy downpours could bring 2-3 inches of rainfall per hour over already saturated soils, which could easily cause flash flooding.