What Flood Watches, Warnings and Emergencies really mean:
THE TAKEAWAY
A powerful storm sweeping across the country after triggering widespread flooding in the Four Corners region is now moving through the Central U.S. On Election Day, the system is expected to bring heavy rain, strong thunderstorms and a risk of flash flooding across the Mid-South and Midwest. By the end of the week, more than 35 states and 120 million people could feel its effects.
Police in Flagstaff, Arizona, said Monday that a man had died after witnesses saw him swept into floodwaters over the weekend.
As the storm advances eastward, southern sections of the Mississippi River and Tennessee valleys are expected to experience rounds of heavy rain throughout the day. The threat of isolated tornadoes will increase during the afternoon, while parts of the Midwest face heavy rainfall and powerful wind gusts through Tuesday and into Wednesday.
Widespread rain is expected to move into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast by Thursday.
Southwest: Dangerous flooding sweeps across the region
The storm has already dumped heavy rain across parts of the Southwest and Four Corners, including Arizona, southern Utah, northwestern New Mexico and southwestern Colorado. Flooding has inundated several communities in the region.
Several rivers in Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado rose to record levels, and some waterways have yet to crest.
Amid the extensive flooding, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs declared a statewide state of emergency Monday. The declaration is intended to make critical funding and state resources available to communities affected by the recent storms.
Utah and Colorado also issued states of emergency as significant flooding continued along the San Juan River. Conditions have led to polling-place changes and other Election Day accommodations in communities across both states.
Flooding was not the only threat facing the Southwest. As heavy rain affected lower elevations, colder air moved into the region and produced snow at higher elevations.
The highest peaks of the San Juan, Sawatch, Wasatch and Uinta ranges received more than a foot of wet, heavy snow. Mountain passes in southwest Colorado recorded between 12 and 18 inches, while other high-elevation locations saw 4 to 10 inches.
Plains & Mid-South:
Severe thunderstorms swept across the Southern Plains Monday, bringing wind gusts of up to 60 mph to parts of Oklahoma.
Storms are expected to move rapidly across the South Tuesday, creating a threat of damaging winds and a few tornadoes in parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Alabama.
Along with the severe weather threat, rainfall totals of 1 to 2 inches are expected, with isolated amounts reaching 2 to 3 inches. The additional rain could produce pockets of flash flooding.
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A Level 2 out of 4 flash flood risk remains in effect through Tuesday night for northern Mississippi and southwestern Tennessee, including Memphis.
A Level 1 out of 4 flash flood threat is forecast Wednesday across parts of Tennessee and the Ohio Valley.
Midwest: Heavy rain and gusty winds target the region
Heavy rain is also expected Tuesday across Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph are possible from eastern Kansas and Nebraska through Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
The strong winds could create hazardous travel conditions and lead to potential delays.
Many locations could receive 1 to 2 inches of rain or more, the FOX Forecast Center said.
Widespread severe flooding is not currently expected, but periods of heavy rain could lead to localized flooding in Omaha, Des Moines and Minneapolis.
East Coast: Heavy rain moves east, ending dry streak
The storm will move toward the Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic by midweek before tracking toward the Northeast, where heavy rain is expected to impact the region.
Rain should begin spreading into the Ohio Valley on Wednesday before reaching the I-95 corridor around Thursday or Friday.
Widespread rainfall totals of more than an inch are possible across the Northeast, with localized amounts approaching 2 inches from central Pennsylvania and Maryland through the New York City area and southern New England.
The rain could help ease dry conditions but downpours could cause minor flooding across the region.
Several areas are experiencing their longest dry stretches of the year so far, with New York City, Boston and Philadelphia all going more than two weeks without rainfall.
As well, drought conditions remain a concern across parts of New England, particularly in Maine, where the entire state is experiencing some level of drought.
Although heavy rain is expected, it is likely it will not make a dent in the ongoing drought.