Jun 21, 2023
Flash Flood Threat From 'Ring Of Fire' Pattern
Sign up for the Morning Brief email newsletter to get weekday updates from The Weather Channel and our meteorologists. Flash flooding is a significant threat as the week comes to a close from the
Sign up for the Morning Brief email newsletter to get weekday updates from The Weather Channel and our meteorologists.
Flash flooding is a significant threat as the week comes to a close from the Rockies to parts of the Southeast as a "ring of fire" pattern remains in place.
This threat of flooding rainfall from clusters of thunderstorms is something we see often in summer.
In this case, a dome of high pressure and its sinking air responsible for record heat in Texas and Louisiana squashes thunderstorm development in its core. But around its edges, you typically see showers and storms. This configuration resembles a ring of fire in satellite, radar and lightning data.
Deep moisture, light winds and stationary fronts are all ingredients contributing to this flash flood threat.
This pattern has already triggered flash flooding. Monday night, heavy rain floated vehicles at an intersection in Fort Collins, Colorado. In central Missouri, up to 6 inches of rain washed out a section of a county road near the town of Zora Tuesday morning.
Tuesday, heavy rain flooded an underpass and vehicles were stranded in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Water and mud covered at least one road in Alta, Utah.
Roads were flooded because of heavy rainfall in southern Illinois and central Missouri early Thursday morning.
Here's where the rain is now: Showers and thunderstorms are rumbling through parts of the Rockies, Plains, Midwest and Southeast.
Below is a look at the latest radar showing any active watches and warnings.
Here's where the flash flood threat is and when it's in play: NOAA's Weather Prediction Center has highlighted a pair of general areas where the threat of flash flooding is highest Thursday into early Friday.
- The mid-Mississippi Valley, Tennessee Valley and parts of the Southeast.
- Northern Rockies to Northern High Plains and the central Plains.
Here's how much more rain could fall: An inch or more of rain can be expected in many of the areas mentioned above through the end of this week.
Much higher totals are possible where lines or clusters of thunderstorms stall for a few hours, as we witnessed in central Missouri early Tuesday morning.
Take this flash flood threat seriously. Flooding has already claimed 50 lives in the U.S. this year, and killed at least 100 the past two years, according to the National Weather Service.
Don't become a statistic. We have a full discussion of flood safety here. The key takeaways are:
-Know if you're in a flood-prone area and how to get to higher ground quickly.
-If your area is in a flood watch, be aware and ready in case flooding occurs.
-Have multiple ways of receiving National Weather Service flood warnings, including via smartphone app and NOAA weather radio.
-Never attempt to drive through a section of a flooded road or around barriers that signal a road closure. Over half of all flood deaths occur in vehicles.
Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been an incurable weather geek since a tornado narrowly missed his childhood home in Wisconsin at age 7. Follow him on X/Twitter, Facebook and Threads.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
Sign up for the Morning Brief email newsletter to get weekday updates from The Weather Channel and our meteorologists.This pattern has already triggered flash flooding. Here's where the rain is now:Here's where the flash flood threat is and when it's in play:Here's how much more rain could fall:Take this flash flood threat seriously.