Flooding rains return to already hard-hit Midwest

SUMMARY

The Ohio Valley once again faces the threat of flash flooding this week.

A slow-moving front will continue to push southeastward from the Midwest through the East Coast into the middle of the week. This will lead to a renewed threat for heavy rain and thunderstorms across a large portion of the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic, including areas that have already been hit by record rainfall and flooding. Areas such as St. Louis, southern Missouri, southern Illinois, and Kentucky, will all be at risk for multiple rounds of rain once again. As the system shifts eastward into parts of Virginia, West Virginia, and eastern Kentucky, this rainfall is expected to again bring a renewed threat for flooding. Once the front passes through, much drier air is expected behind the cold front that will provide for not only less humid weather, but drier weather with temperatures near to below average for much of the Midwest and Northeast through the start of the weekend. This will give some aid to those cleaning up after the flooding and some time for any renewed flooding threats to diminish.

Even if the heaviest rainfall avoids these hard-hit areas, a single round of heavy rainfall could still lead to the development of significant and life-threatening flooding. Businesses in the area need to keep a close eye on this system and should:

• Expect ground logistics disruption due to road closures, flooded roads, and power outages

• Prepare for loss of Inventory due to flooding

• Ensure all employees and visitors on-site have a way to be notified of severe weather