Flash flood warnings expanded Friday to 32 active alerts across 12 states — up from 26 across 9 states Thursday — reversing what had appeared to be a narrowing trend and signaling that the multi-day flood threat has broadened geographically.
The warning map stretched Friday from Washington state to South Carolina, covering Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, and Washington. Several of those states — including Kansas, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, and Washington — were not under warnings Thursday, marking a significant westward and northward expansion of the threat.
Arkansas carried the largest cluster of active alerts. The National Weather Service issued warnings across more than a dozen counties, including Baxter, Boone, Cleburne, Conway, Faulkner, Fulton, Independence, Izard, Marion, Newton, Pope, Searcy, Sharp, Stone, White, and Yell. Higher-elevation zones across Boone, Johnson, Newton, Pope, Searcy, and Van Buren counties held separate active alerts as saturated terrain increased runoff risk.
Conditions worsened in Mississippi, where the National Weather Service upgraded the East Hobolochitto Creek near Caesar in Pearl River County from minor to moderate flooding. A separate warning covered the Tchoutacabouffa River above D’Iberville in Harrison County, where minor flooding is occurring and forecast to persist. Gulf Coast counties George, Greene, and Jackson also remained under active alerts.
Kansas entered the warning map Friday as the National Weather Service in Wichita issued a flood warning for Mulberry Creek near Salina in Saline County. At 24.0 feet, agricultural flooding is expected, with portions of Halstead Road near the river gauge site listed among the impacted areas.
South Carolina added Calhoun and Richland counties to the active warning picture. Kentucky warnings covered Crittenden and Union counties, while alerts remained active across Alabama, Louisiana, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, and Texas.
Residents in Texas, including the Houston metro area, should monitor National Weather Service river stage updates as warnings remain active across the state. Mississippi’s flood picture spans from the Gulf Coast to central portions of the state, with Pearl River County’s East Hobolochitto Creek now at moderate flood stage and the Jackson, MS area under continued watch through multiple active alerts.
The National Weather Service urged motorists across all affected areas not to attempt to drive through flooded roads. “Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads,” the agency said in multiple alerts, noting that most flood deaths occur in vehicles.