Paducah, Ky. – Torrential downpours could trigger flash flooding across western Kentucky, southern Illinois, and southeast Missouri today, as slow-moving thunderstorms drench the tri-state area with up to 4 inches of rain.
According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, a Flood Watch remains in effect from 10 a.m. through midnight Monday for counties including McCracken, Graves, Union, Jackson, and Williamson. In southeast Missouri, the watch began earlier and remains active through 7 p.m., affecting Cape Girardeau, Poplar Bluff, and Perryville.
Localized rainfall totals could reach 1.5 to 3 inches in under two hours, with isolated pockets receiving even more. Low-lying areas, small creeks, and poor-drainage zones are most at risk, especially in urban centers like Paducah, Owensboro, Cape Girardeau, and Carbondale. Drivers should avoid flooded roadways, and residents are urged to monitor local alerts.
In Missouri, the threat follows a stalled front funneling repeated storms across Route 60 and Interstate 55, where visibility and water ponding could become hazardous during peak travel.
The greatest risk for flash flooding will continue through the evening, especially where storms repeatedly pass over the same areas. More flood alerts may be issued if conditions worsen.
