Hurricane Simon Fuels Severe Storms, Flooding Threat Across 11 US States
Millions face dangerous conditions including torrential downpours, high winds, and severe thunderstorms.
Millions of Americans are under urgent flood warnings as storms, amplified by moisture from Hurricane Simon, are poised to bring life-threatening conditions across 11 states. The National Weather Service (NWS) has forecast torrential downpours, wind gusts up to 70 mph, large hailstones, severe lightning, and flooding from Wednesday morning through Thursday night.
Flash flood warnings were issued for the Oklahoma City area on Wednesday morning, with up to eight inches of rain expected in the South. Flood watches have also been put in place for Texas, Kansas, and Missouri. The NWS anticipates that severe thunderstorms and flooding will also impact Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
The most intense storms are predicted to strike a large portion of Texas and Oklahoma on Wednesday night around 9 p.m. local time. Forecasters warn that heavy rainfall rates could significantly reduce visibility and disrupt travel, particularly impacting the Wednesday and Thursday evening commutes. AccuWeather meteorologists indicated that a few thunderstorms might escalate to severe levels.
The storms are drawing energy from Hurricane Simon, which made landfall on Mexico's Pacific Coast earlier in the week. This hurricane-fed moisture is combining with a surge of tropical moisture from the Gulf of Mexico to create a significant rain system over the United States.
The Oklahoma City Fire Department reported responding to calls concerning downed power lines and a possible drowning as the heavy rains began. The department urged residents via social media to exercise caution, allow extra stopping distance for vehicles, and to avoid driving through flooded roadways, using the slogan "Turn Around, Don’t Drown."
