Millions in the Midwest Bracing for Major Flash Flooding
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The NWS issues a Flash Flood WARNING when flooding is occurring or imminent
Flash floods are the #1 weather-related killer in the United States
The storm forecast cone tracks the CENTER, not the full impact zone!
The cone shows where the storm's eye is likely to travel — not where damage stops. Winds, storm surge, and rain routinely extend far outside its edges, making it the most misread graphic in weather coverage.
Hurricane Ivan knocked out power to 1.7M customers in 2004!
Ivan struck the same NW Florida Panhandle coast in Sept. 2004, causing ~$18.8B in damage. Some communities waited 3+ weeks for power — the same grim timeline now feared after Isaias.
A hurricane's category only measures one thing: wind speed!
The Saffir-Simpson scale rates sustained winds alone — storm surge, rainfall, and storm size are not factored in. A sprawling Category 1 can flood more land than a compact Category 3. Low number ≠ low danger.
Topic poll · all networksFlash floods must form within how long of heavy rain, by definition?
- 6 hours
- 24 hours
- 48 hours
- 72 hours
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6 hours
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