25 states could see severe flooding in coming weeks, scientists say

Twenty-five states are at risk of “major or moderate” flooding in coming weeks, federal scientists said Thursday.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) spring outlook says nearly two-thirds of the lower 48 states are at an elevated risk of flooding until May.

{mosads}Many Midwestern states have already been dealing with record-breaking end-of-winter floods this year caused by rapid snow melt and early spring rain. President Trump has declared a disaster in Nebraska at the urging of the state’s congressional delegation.

More snow melt and rain is expected to “prolong and expand flooding” in the Midwest and the southern U.S., according to NOAA.

JUST IN:: @NOAA #SpringOutlook 2019: Historic, widespread #flooding to continue through May. Access our images & video at https://t.co/h0FHkKJavk @NWS #Spring pic.twitter.com/fZruKfQ8nR

— NOAA Communications (@NOAAComms) March 21, 2019

“The extensive flooding we’ve seen in the past two weeks will continue through May and become more dire and may be exacerbated in the coming weeks as the water flows downstream,” Ed Clark, director of NOAA’s National Water Center, said in a statement.

“This is shaping up to be a potentially unprecedented flood season, with more than 200 million people at risk for flooding in their communities.”

NOAA identified the upper, middle and lower Mississippi River basins, the Red River of the North, the Great Lakes, and the eastern Missouri River, lower Ohio River, lower Cumberland River and Tennessee River basins as the areas with greatest risks of moderate to major flooding.