Flash flood warnings in Mass., Conn. and RI
Digest more
Texas, Flash flood
Digest more
New Mexico, flash flood
Digest more
An analysis of National Weather Service job vacancies found that in more than a third of offices overseeing flash flood hotspots, one or more of three senior leadership roles are open.
Straighter, smoother streams flow more violently than those that meander due to a reduction in friction. Areas with steeper terrain can see water accelerate downhill at a much faster rate causing a more destructive flash flood than flatter, open areas.
Explore more
More than 111 people have died across six counties after flash flooding from heavy rain began affecting the state last week.
Back-to-back flooding disasters in recent years — in Texas, New Mexico and Kentucky, among many others — have showed that preparing for flash flooding is a new necessity as the planet warms.
Flash flooding from heavy rain killed at least three people and prompted dozens of rescues in the Ruidoso area of southern New Mexico, officials said — the same area devastated by wildfires last year.
Along a similar vein, conspiracy theories maligning Doppler weather radars as “weather weapons” have heightened in the wake of flash floods in central Texas. Forecasters use the radar system to detect precipitation, and now have to worry about vigilantes vandalizing them at times when people rely on those forecasts to stay safe.
Flash flooding has been in the spotlight in the last week, with several record breaking flood events occurring nearly back-to-back across the country. CNN’s Tyler Ory explains why they’re becoming more intense .
Thursday's rain was a highly localized event. The highest impact was only felt over a 5-to-10 mile area south of Boston.