Severe Weather Alerts Issued for Millions Amid Flash Flooding Risk

AUSTIN, Texas – A storm system is putting 45 million people from Texas to Missouri on alert for severe weather on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. The regions most affected are bracing for major flash flooding due to forecasts predicting three to seven inches of rain.

Severe thunderstorm watches are currently in effect from Texas to Ohio, with storms expected to bring damaging wind gusts up to 75 mph, large hail, and possibly tornadoes. These watches cover areas from Louisville, Kentucky, to Cleveland and Pittsburgh, extending to Buffalo, New York, and parts of Texas and Oklahoma.

Life-threatening flash flooding poses a significant threat, especially in Oklahoma, which is indicated as the area with the highest risk. The already saturated soil from heavy rain over the weekend worsens the flash flooding situation.

The storms could also lead to large hail and damaging winds, affecting cities from Waco and Dallas in Texas to Little Rock, Arkansas. FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin emphasizes the urgency as these severe storms are expected to start Monday afternoon and persist into Monday night.

Additionally, over five million people have been placed in a Level 4 out of 5 risk zone, which includes parts of southern, western, and northern areas of the affected states. A secondary area of severe storms may develop across the central and southern Plains, which, while weaker, could still produce tornadoes.

A recent incident in Ashby, Nebraska, highlights the storm’s impact. An empty coal train derailed during Tornado Warnings, with no injuries reported. The derailment coincided with a likely tornado producing strong winds, further illustrating the severe weather threat.

Reports indicate that over 65 million people across Texas and bordering states are at risk of severe weather. The Storm Prediction Center has issued Level 3 out of 5 risk designations for some 11.5 million people, particularly affecting cities in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.

The severe weather is expected to escalate throughout the day, and updates will continue as conditions evolve.