NWS Memphis warns of severe storms and flash flooding through Wednesday

The National Weather Service in Memphis says the entire Mid-South is under a Marginal Risk, or level 1 out of 5, for severe storms later this afternoon into evening. The main threats are damaging winds and locally heavy rainfall, with a brief tornado or two also possible.

The weather service’s severe-weather graphic shows the risk period lasting from 2 p.m. to midnight Wednesday. It says the line of thunderstorms will move across the region during that window, bringing the strongest weather during the late afternoon and evening hours.

A separate NWS Memphis flash-flooding graphic says 1 to 2 inches of rain are forecast, with locally higher amounts possible. The service says the heaviest rainfall could fall especially along and north of I-40 as the storms move through.

NWS Memphis urges people to be ready for flooding if roads become covered with water and says, in its flood safety message, not to walk into flood waters. The agency’s reminder is to turn around and not drown if water blocks a roadway.

Source: US National Weather Service Memphis Tennessee.