Dallas in bull's-eye for severe weather, flooding as storms prompt Tornado Watches in multiple states
This renewed threat comes after at least three people were killed and hundreds of thousands of people were left without power after extreme weather tore across communities from the Plains and Midwest to the Northeast on Tuesday.
Tornado watches issued as severe weather dials in on Dallas
Parts of Texas are under a level 3 of 5 storm threat. Tornado watches have been issued until Wednesday evening for parts of Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana.
Fast Facts:
- Severe weather threatens the southern and central U.S. for an eighth straight day.
- Torrential rain has prompted numerous Flash Flood Warnings on Wednesday.
DALLAS – A multiday severe weather and flooding threat is continuing on Wednesday, with more than 41 million people in cities like Dallas bracing for more rounds of powerful thunderstorms and torrential rain.
This renewed threat comes after at least three people were killed and hundreds of thousands of people were left without power after a serial derecho tore across communities from the Plains and Midwest to the Northeast on Tuesday.
Strong to severe thunderstorms have been possible over a large swath of the U.S. on Wednesday, from the central and southern Plains to the Deep South, Midwest and mid-Atlantic.
However, the FOX Forecast Center is focusing on the southern Plains and Ark-La-Tex region, where the threat is higher.
NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued a Tornado Watch for parts of western Arkansas, southeastern Oklahoma and northeastern Texas until 5 p.m. CT.
Another Tornado Watch was issued for southwestern Arkansas, northwestern Louisiana and east-central Texas until 8 p.m. CT.
The SPC has placed more than 3 million people in portions of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana in a Level 3 risk on its 5-point severe thunderstorm risk scale.
This includes those living and working in Dallas, as well as Garland, Mesquite, Tyler and Longview.
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Forecasters say all severe weather threats are possible on Wednesday, including storms that could produce large hail, damaging wind gusts and tornadoes.
"Some of these tornadoes could be particularly strong," FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin said. "The whole Metroplex is locked up in this potential, where these tornadoes could be long-lived. They could be stronger than an EF-2, and that risk zone extends up Interstate 30 to Texarkana."
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Flood risk grows in Plains, Deep South
It's not only severe weather that is concerning forecasters.
Torrential rain from the storms is expected to lead to flash flooding, and numerous Flash Flood Warnings from the heavy precipitation were issued on Wednesday morning.
Flooding reached Norman on Wednesday afternoon, where video showed a car driving through a flooded street.
Watch: Cars drive through flooded street in Central Oklahoma
A video taken in Norman, Oklahoma, on Wednesday showed multiple cars driving through flooded streets.
Flooding was reported in the Oklahoma City area on Tuesday night, and officials were forced to close a section of Interstate 35 because of water on the roadway.
The heavy rainfall caused troopers to shut down northbound Interstate 35 at Interstate 44 in the Oklahoma City metro due to significant flooding. (@OHPDPS/X / FOX Weather)
"Be careful driving if you have to get out," officials warned. "Reduce your speed. And always remember – don’t drive into standing water."
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR HOUSE FLOODS?
NOAA's Weather Prediction Center (WPC) has placed a large area of Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas in a Level 3 out of 4 risk for flooding on Wednesday.
This includes the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, which is also on alert for powerful thunderstorms on Wednesday.