Flash flood emergency hits Little Rock as more torrential rain slams South, Midwest, killing 10

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency for Little Rock, North Little Rock and Conway on Friday as torrential rain overwhelmed parts of central Arkansas. The hazardous weather has so far killed 10 people.

The warning, in effect until 2:15 p.m. CDT, urges residents to move to higher ground immediately. The weather service described the situation as “particularly dangerous,” with life-threatening flash flooding reported in low-lying and urban areas.

Heavy rainfall continued to hammer the region through midday, prompting road closures and multiple water rescues, local authorities said. Significant severe weather and potentially fatal flash flooding continue to affect most of the mid-South through the Ohio River Valley, leaving roughly 176,000 customers without power. Residents are advised to avoid travel and monitor alerts from emergency officials. Photos and updates have been shared via the weather service’s social media account, @NWSFlashFlood.

Two deaths have been reported in Kentucky, two in Missouri, and five in Tennessee. One death has been reported in Indiana. Officials are anticipating more casualties as the weather continues to develop. Flash flooding may occur in locations including Little Rock, North Little Rock, Conway, Benton, Sherwood, Jacksonville, Cabot, West Little Rock, Maumelle Bryant, Downtown Little Rock, Little Rock Airports: North Little Rock and Southwest Little Rock. Little Rock Air Force Base, Ward, and Vilonia, Shannon Hills, Mayflower, Wrightsville, Austin and Lonoke County.

A picture of floodwaters engulfing a Memphis neighborhood with automobiles stuck and partially submerged was circulated by local media. Until at least 8:15 p.m. CDT, the Memphis metro region is under a Flash Flood Emergency. Roads in the area, including a section of Interstate 40, have been closed due to the flooding.

A train derailed and fell into the surging river below after a railroad bridge in Arkansas was torn apart by flooding. Rising flooding, mudslides, and rockslides in Kentucky have forced the closure of hundreds of roadways, depriving many communities of essential services. Residents are being advised by officials to stay away from travel unless they are evacuating. In addition to the continuous threat of destructive winds and hail, the situation is made worse by the potential for further tornadoes, which have already ravaged sections of the region.

Parts of the central US have been overwhelmed by continuous rounds of heavy rain, which has caused streams to rise quickly and prompted many flash flood situations in other states like Missouri and Texas. Communities are still recuperating from a fatal outbreak of severe weather earlier this week, which included strong tornadoes that destroyed neighborhoods and killed at least seven people. This flooding coincides with that event.

After four exhausting days of severe weather, at least 10 people have died, including a 9-year-old child who was washed away by floodwaters in Frankfurt, Kentucky, on Friday morning as he was making his way to a school bus stop. According to officials, Gabriel Andrews' body was discovered roughly 0.5 miles after his disappearance. "My heart breaks for this family,” Kentucky. Gov. Andy Beshear said. “We need everyone to understand that all water poses a risk right now. Let’s do everything possible to keep our loved ones safe.”

Parts of the Lower and Mid-Mississippi River Valley, which is still at high danger of flooding, have been devastated by this multi-day high impact flood event, which will end on Saturday.

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According to the Storm Prediction Center, 41 million people are at risk of severe storms on Saturday from the Ohio River Valley southwest to southeast Texas. The Mississippi Valley, which includes portions of Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, and Mississippi, is at level 4 of 4 risk of flooding rain for the third day in a row on Saturday.

When rainfall is at its highest on Saturday afternoon and evening, residents in these locations are likely to experience the highest number of "life-threatening" flash floods. Outside of hurricane season, the three-day period with the highest risk of flooding is virtually unheard of.