Heavy rain, flood risk shift to St. Louis, Indianapolis into Sunday night

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist

July 3,2016; 9:34AM,EDT

 

 

After inundating Kansas to start the holiday weekend, heavy rain and the risk for dangerous flooding will shift eastward along the I-70 corridor of the Midwest into Sunday night.
Heavy rain streaking eastward from the central Plains will spread from Missouri to Ohio, significantly heightening the risk of flooding.
"For the I-70 corridor, we are looking at extremely heavy rainfall into Sunday night with widespread flash flooding," AccuWeather Storm Warning Meteorologist Alexandria Davis said. "We will see widespread 3- to 6-inch amounts."

The heaviest rain and greatest flood risk will target Springfield, Columbia and St. Louis, Missouri; Springfield, Illinois; and Indianapolis.
Drenching and locally severe thunderstorms will also extend a more isolated flood risk to eastern Oklahoma and along the Ohio River.
Rain spreading into Ohio will become progressively heavier on Sunday night. The flood risk will further rise as the rain continues to pour down on Independence Day. This includes in Dayton, Cincinnati and Columbus.
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Travel delays are expected on the road and in the air for anyone traveling for the Fourth of July holiday.
Those traveling at highway speeds are urged to slow down in any heavy downpours to reduce the risk of hydroplaning.
Should any roads get covered with water, turn around and find an alternate route. It only takes a foot of rushing water to carry away a small vehicle.

Flooding will progress from urban and poor-drainage areas to progressively larger streams this weekend and some of the major waterways, including the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, this week.
Those living in low-lying and flood-prone areas should have an emergency preparedness kit on hand in the event of an evacuation.
Kansas was the first of the central United States to face flooding over the holiday weekend.

Flash flooding unfolded in northern Wichita, Kansas, on Saturday, July 2, 2016. (Photo/AccuWeather Enterprise Solutions Chief Innovation Executive Mike Smith)
From Saturday afternoon to night, numerous water rescues were performed in Wichita, Kansas, where nearly 6 inches of rain poured down. The 5.72 inches of rain that fell alone on Saturday shattered the day's rainfall record of 2.04 inches from 1989.
Multiple streets also became flooded in Moundridge and McPherson, Kansas.
Conditions along the I-70 corridor will slowly improve from west to east on Monday into Tuesday as the heavy rain and flood risk shifts to the mid-Atlantic on Monday into Monday night. This includes in West Virginia as residents continue to clean up from the recent devastating flooding.
Clouds and a few showers will continue to dampen St. Louis on Monday but should break for the evening.
Evening fireworks shows could stay as planned across the Plains and Missouri Valley but may be delayed or canceled across portions of the Ohio Valley as rain and thunderstorms stick around into the evening hours.
Content contributed by AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rathbun.