AccuWeather meteorologist Jonathan Porter said: “This is a very alarming setup, and we’re concerned about the risk of life-threatening and historic flash flooding, which could evolve into a major river flooding event.
“Up to four months’ worth of rainfall is expected in five days in some areas which could trigger a one-in-1,000-year flood.
“We are forecasting a zone of 12 to 18 inches of rainfall through Saturday night across northeastern Arkansas, southeastern Missouri, northwestern Tennessee, western Kentucky, southeastern Illinois and southwestern Indiana, with a maximum of 21 inches.”
The warnings follow violent storms which kicked off at the weekend to unleash a week of wind, rain and tornado assaults.
Surging temperatures to the south clashing with cold air to the north has created a storm battle zone.
This weekend, the threat comes from a massive high-pressure anticyclone off the east coast feeding rain into the Gulf Coast and central states.
Porter said: “A big area of high pressure off the coast of the Southeast United States will funnel moisture from the Caribbean and Gulf into central parts.
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