NOAA/NWS/AHPSThe National Weather Service warns of “near catastrophic flooding” this weekend along the Arkansas River in Fort Smith, Arkansas, the result of weeks of extremely heavy rain from persistent severe thunderstorms in the central United States. The hardest-hit region lies along the Arkansas River in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Focused bouts of heavy rain have pushed the river to record flooding, reaching heights never before seen in modern recordkeeping. The river could reach an even higher crest if more rain than currently predicted falls in the Arkansas River basin across northern Oklahoma. A 41-foot crest in Fort Smith would be “near catastrophic,” according to the National Weather Service.

Source: Forbes May 25, 2019 04:30 UTC