Still More Pain In The Plains

And even more water. Flooding has started to become an issue in many areas of the Midwest as the persistent storm front continues to hover over the nation's midsection. At least one interstate has been closed at this hour and a number of areas are already flooding or are under flood warnings. The storms and rain are expected to continue today.

The southern and central Plains today will be the target of more severe storms today, following a weekend of deadly tornadoes, flooding rain, hail and destructive winds. Severe thunderstorms will erupt today and tonight over a widespread area from New Mexico and Texas to Kansas and Oklahoma.

Severe thunderstorms wreaked havoc on the Plains this past weekend, with reports of more than 100 tornadoes. The prolonged severe weather event will continue today with additional severe thunderstorms, accompanied by destructive winds, hail and isolated tornadoes.

Thunderstorms are forecast today for Greensburg, Kan., the town obliterated Friday by an EF-5 (Enhanced Fajita) tornado, with wind speeds topping 200 mph. This was the first F-5 tornado since an F-5 tornado tore through Moore, Okla., outside of Oklahoma City, on May 3, 1999.

The Midwest Regional News report states heavy rain will produce an increased threat of flooding across the Plains states. The Severe Weather Center lists all the watches and warning for these storms.

Rainfall totals over the 60-hour period ending at 1 a.m. CDT include:

• Aberdeen, S.D. - 8.42"
• Topeka, Kan. - 6.57"
• Great Bend, Kan. - 5.51"
• Atlantic, Iowa - 4.83"
• Shenandoah, Iowa - 4.75"
• Manhattan, Kan. - 4.29"
• Beatrice, Neb. - 4.13"
• Aberdeen, S.D. - 8.42"
• Topeka, Kan. - 6.57"
• Great Bend, Kan. - 5.51"
• Atlantic, Iowa - 4.83"
• Shenandoah, Iowa - 4.75"
• Manhattan, Kan. - 4.29"
• Beatrice, Neb. - 4.13"

I had to pump out the pool yesterday and will have to do so again today since it rained all night. The ground is saturated right now, which is why the flood warnings are now so serious. The rain will have to go somewhere and the ground can't hold any more. The problem appears to be a stalled jetstream that is sucking moisture up from the Gulf of Mexico and dumping it right in the middle of the country.