Floods ravage the central Plains by Steph Ball
A state of emergency has been declared across the states of Oklahoma and Missouri in response to rising floodwaters. Thousands of residents have been forced from their homes along the Missouri River this week as severe thunderstorms, which spawned the devastating Greensburg tornado, continue to pound parts of the central Plains.
Five levees broke along the Missouri River on Monday sending a deluge of river water running down across the town of Big Lake, Missouri, submerging it. Residents across three states were evacuated as water levels reached those not seen since the devastating floods of 1993.
In 1993 floodwaters reached record levels resulting in at least 10, 000 homes being destroyed and the death of 48 people. The Missouri River peaked on the 27th July, setting a new record of 48.9feet (15 metres).
The National Weather Service issued a flurry of warnings on Tuesday as slow moving supercell thunderstorms continued across the Plains, adding to the flood waters and with reports of further tornadoes.
A supercell is the most severe of thunderstorms and can often last for hours producing torrential rainfall, large hail and strong winds. Supercells are one of the few types of clouds that typically spawn tornadoes.
Little reprieve is expected today with warnings of flash flooding still in force for parts of Texas, Missouri and Oklahoma and with further tornadoes forecast across Oklahoma.
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