Millions In Line Of New Storm Floods, Tornadoes

Strong winds, rain and flooding could impact as many as 14 million people starting Friday, according to CNN meteorologist Sherri Pugh, who says Saturday is likely to bring more more rain.

Texas is among places under a tornado watch. 

According to Accuweather.com, another line of severe storms is developing now over southwest Minnesota, and moving steadily northeast. 

‘If it keep on rainin the levee gonna break’

“We’ve never seen the water this high,” a fisherman on the southern shore of Lake Erie told Deborah Dupré this past weekend. “The water is so high, it pushed the fish right up the narrow creek behind my house and that’s never happened before.”

He said, “Something’s going on.”

Asked if he thought global warming might be to blame, he said, “Everybody up here knows something’s melting the Arctic ice. It’s hard to be a global warming denier up here. It’s easier to see it up here.”

He then shook his head and simly said, “End times.”

Southerners as far down as south Louisiana might be saying the same thing after another season of heavy flooding is predicted there.  Even without more rain, they’d still be bracing for severe flooding as an extra amount of northern melted snow flows toward the already rising Gulf of Mexico. 

A flood warning has been in effect for southern Louisiana and Mississippi where motorists are being advised: 

“DO NOT DRIVE CARS THROUGH FLOODED AREAS.  REMEMBER…TWO FEET OF
RUSHING WATER CAN CARRY AWAY MOST VEHICLES INCLUDING PICKUPS.  TURN AROUND AND DON`T DROWN.”

A flood warning continues for Louisiana and Mississippi rivers including: Pearl River near Bogalusa affecting St. Tammany and Washington Parishes and Hancock and Pearl River Counties in Mississippi.

After a deluge and flooding last week, Mobile, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida will get another 1 to 3 inches of rain dumped on them. 

“The area has been dealing with recent heavy rains, so the risk is high in those areas for flash flooding, and there’s been a flash flood watch issued,” CNN reports.

Rain also will begin drenching the Pacific Northwest on Thursday, with the system moving to the Northern Rockies on Friday and Saturday.

“Scattered severe thunderstorms capable of very large hail and tornadoes are forecast today across parts of Minnesota and Iowa,” according to NOAA. “Other more isolated severe storms are possible across parts of the mid Mississippi Valley into the Southern Plains.”

Added to millions of people facing an already high water table and more flooding, millions of others face strong storms expected to strike from Arkansas to Indiana, with more rain in the Midwest, South and Northeast as the new system moves east. 

Bob Dylan sings in Modern Times, ”If it keep on rainin’, the levee gonna break.” Even if the rains subsided this season, it appears the Mississippi levees will again be put to the test this spring.  

Hurricane Katrina survivors (Credit: Democrats.com)

Sources: CNN, Bob Dylan.com