“Missourians should continue to monitor local forecasts and follow the guidance of local authorities,” Kehoe said.
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Flash Flood Emergencies and Warnings
The US National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Emergency for parts of Iron and Reynolds counties on Friday.
Forecasters warned that additional rounds of thunderstorms with heavy rains are expected to continue throughout Friday evening, with an extended flood watch in place over the weekend.
Flash flood warnings were also activated for Andrew, Madison, Washington, Buchanan, Crawford, Clinton, DeKalb, and Holt counties as saturated soils increased the risk of sudden inundation.
“The flash flood risk is increasing across southeastern Missouri into the Tennessee Valley for this evening into the overnight hours as rounds of heavy rainfall fall over saturated soils,” said the National Weather Service.
The agency warned that numerous flash floods remain highly likely, advising residents to strictly avoid walking or driving through flooded roadways.
In eastern Missouri, meteorologists recorded immense rainfall totals that caused widespread destruction overnight.
“Additional rainfall is expected in the same area through tonight, and a flood watch remains in effect,” said forecasters at the National Weather Service office in St. Louis.
Meanwhile, the weather office in Kansas City highlighted that while tornadoes and hail are possible, torrential downpours remain the primary danger.
“Damaging winds and heavy rainfall are the primary threats, but hail and a brief tornado cannot be ruled out,” said the National Weather Service office in Kansas City.
Meteorologists expect the fast-moving storm systems to produce highly efficient rainfall capable of worsening the ongoing regional flooding.
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“Storms will be efficient producers of torrential rainfall that could lead to flooding,” the office added.
