Flash Flood Warning Issued for Memphis Area After Heavy Thunderstorms
Emergency management reports 3-5 inches of rain fell across Memphis area as thunderstorms trigger flash flooding warnings.
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE — The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for the Memphis metropolitan area Monday evening after emergency management officials reported thunderstorms producing heavy rainfall across the region.
The flash flood warning, issued at 9:20 p.m. CDT on April 28, remained in effect until 11:15 p.m. CDT as storms dumped between 3 and 5 inches of rain on the warned area. Weather officials said rainfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour were expected, with additional accumulations of 1 to 2.5 inches possible.
Multiple Communities Under Threat
According to the National Weather Service Memphis office, flash flooding was ongoing or expected to begin shortly across numerous communities. Areas experiencing flash flooding include Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, West Memphis, Forrest City, Marion, Millington, Wynne, Earle, Hughes, Parkin, Madison, Palestine, T O Fuller State Park, Village Creek State Park, Meeman Shelby Forest State Park, Cordova, Memphis, Lakeland and Arlington.
Emergency management officials reported that flash flooding was affecting small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses, as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas throughout the region.
Severe Weather Conditions
Shortly before the flash flood warning, the National Weather Service also issued a severe thunderstorm warning at 9:16 p.m. CDT for parts of the area. At 9:15 p.m. CDT, radar indicated a severe thunderstorm was located over Southaven, moving east at 35 mph with wind gusts up to 60 mph.
The severe thunderstorm warning, which expired at 9:30 p.m. CDT, warned residents to expect damage to roofs, siding and trees. Communities in the path of the severe storm included Southaven, Collierville, Olive Branch, Horn Lake, Hernando, Memphis, Byhalia, Walls, Lake Cormorant, Lynchburg, Whitehaven, Lewisburg, Newport, Cockrum, Cedarview, Bright, Nesbit, Handy Corner, Capleville and Glover.
Transportation Impact
The severe weather affected major transportation corridors in the region. Interstate 22 in Mississippi was impacted between mile markers 1 and 14, while Interstate 55 faced conditions between mile markers 1 and 4 in Tennessee and between mile markers 280 and 292 in Mississippi.
Weather officials urged residents in affected areas to avoid flooded roadways and to move to higher ground if experiencing flooding conditions. The combination of heavy rainfall and severe winds created dangerous conditions across the Memphis metropolitan area and surrounding communities in Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas.
