Storms Put 20 Million Under Flood Alerts as Louisiana Rain Nears 29-Inch State Record
Updated
Updated · NBC News · Jun 20
Storms Put 20 Million Under Flood Alerts as Louisiana Rain Nears 29-Inch State Record
3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Jun 20
Summary
Around 20 million people across the central and southern U.S. remained under flood alerts Saturday as severe storms, flash flooding and extreme heat hit the Plains, Midwest and South.
Nearly 29 inches of rain fell in Cottonport, Louisiana, in 24 hours Friday—potentially topping the state's 22-inch record—as Arthur's remnants, saturated soils and a tropical air mass fueled more flooding risk.
More than 19,000 utility customers lost power, including about 15,000 in Texas and 4,000 in Mississippi, while additional heavy rain threatened already waterlogged parts of Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.
Kansas City faced a flood watch through Sunday evening ahead of the Ecuador-Curacao World Cup match, and storms across Nebraska, Kansas and eastern Colorado could bring tornadoes, hail and 75-mph winds.
Another 29 million people were under heat alerts, with Houston's heat index reaching 108F, adding to risks for holiday travelers as TSA expects more than 3 million passengers Sunday.