Flood Warnings Issued In Five States — NWS Warns 'Turn Around, Don't Drown'

The National Weather Service has issued flood warnings in five states amid growing concerns of road safety and heavy rain conditions.

The warnings have been put into effect in specific counties in Kansas, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, and New York.

Throughout Missouri, Indiana, and Illinois, the NWS has also placed a heavy wind warning in counties where "20 to 30 mph winds with gusts up to 45 mph [are] expected." While these harsh winds are confined to those three states, the NWS warns they could make flash floods and heavy rain conditions even more dangerous.

"Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result [...] Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution."

A number of rivers throughout the Midwest and Northeastern United States have been named in flood warning reports, while Cooper County in Missouri has been placed under an active flash flood watch due to ongoing thunderous conditions.

"Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain have fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 1 to 1.5 inches in 1 hour. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly."

"Excessive rainfall" is cited as the main cause of the floods throughout the country, with several large rivers taking on more water than they can hold and subsequently spilling out into the roads and residential areas. Residents in the affected areas should "monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible flood warnings," according to the NWS. "Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop."

Full details of the counties and rivers affected can be found on the National Weather Service's website.