Thirty-one active Flood Warnings remained in force Wednesday across nine states — Alabama, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming — as a multi-day flooding outbreak in the central United States transitions from fast-moving flash flooding to sustained river rises working through major drainage systems.
The count continues a decline from the outbreak’s peak of 72 alerts Monday and 52 Tuesday, but the character of the hazard is shifting rather than simply easing. The National Weather Service has replaced many short-fuse flash flood warnings with longer-duration river flood warnings as rainfall already on the ground works slowly through regional watersheds — a signal that acute danger is contracting even as prolonged inundation along waterways continues.
The most closely watched gauge is the Wabash River at Montezuma in western Indiana, where the National Weather Service in Indianapolis says heavy rainfall totaling locally 6 to 8 inches since Saturday has produced minor flooding. The river is expected to crest at Montezuma early Thursday and remain elevated through Thursday night. Parke, Vermillion, and Vigo counties in western Indiana remain under active Flood Warnings.
In Kansas, the National Weather Service is maintaining Flood Warnings on the Solomon River near Niles, where moderate flooding is occurring and moderate flooding remains forecast. The river affects Dickinson, Ottawa, and Saline counties. Salt Creek near Ada continues to affect Ottawa County. Partial improvement came Wednesday as the National Weather Service cancelled the Flood Warning on the Smoky Hill River at Enterprise in Dickinson County — one of several incremental rollbacks as the Kansas river network slowly recedes.
Missouri carries the broadest cluster of active warnings in the outbreak, with Flood Warnings covering Platte, Carroll, Chariton, Saline, and Vernon counties. The pattern reflects an elevated Missouri River drainage system still processing rainfall accumulated earlier in the week. Residents near Kansas City weather should monitor updated river stage forecasts through at least Thursday as that drainage continues.
Texas is also among the nine affected states. Those along waterways in the Houston weather region should consult current National Weather Service forecasts for localized river stage information.
The National Weather Service cautions that motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or through flooded areas. River levels can remain elevated for days after rainfall ends as upstream water moves through watershed systems, and road conditions near waterways may remain hazardous well after skies have cleared. Current stream gauge data is available at weather.gov.