Flash Flood Threat After Tornadoes Rip Through Plains

There have been more than 70 reports of tornadoes in recent days.

ByABC News
May 12, 2015, 3:38 PM

— -- Since the outbreak started last Tuesday, there have been nearly 800 reports of severe weather, with 145 of those being tornado reports.

Over Mother's Day Weekend specifically, there were more than 70 reports of tornadoes from Iowa to South Dakota to Texas.

In Delmont, South Dakota, a tornado packing winds up to 130 mph left a 17-mile path of destruction through the town, damaging over 20 buildings. One of those buildings was a 125-year-old church.

Both Iowa and Arkansas were also hit by tornadoes. A tornado tore through a high school in Lake City, Iowa, ripping the roof off while people were inside Sunday evening. In Nashville, Arkansas, a tornado with winds over 125 mph hit a mobile home park, leaving two people dead and multiple injuries.

One of the hardest hit areas was Van, Texas. A tornado with winds up to 140 mph caused destruction to about 30 percent of the city, two fatalities, and several missing.

PHOTO: Tornado spotted in Van, TX on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Tornado spotted in Van, TX on Sunday, May 10, 2015.

The good news is that the atmosphere calmed down significantly today, and the widespread threat of severe weather is much lower for most of the week. The next round of severe storms, and possibly another outbreak, returns by Friday and into the weekend.

The Southern Plains are still not out of the woods just yet, though. Flash flooding will continue to be an ongoing issue for large parts of Texas and Oklahoma, where flash flood watches have been posted for the next few days. Flooding was reported in Houston and Corpus Christi early this morning; nearly 3 inches of rain fell in one hour in Corpus Christi.

This after parts of Texas got over 10 inhes of rain Sunday night. An additional two to four inches of rain is possible through Wednesday night, with isolated amounts close to half a foot.

PHOTO: Flash Flood Watches are in effect for most of Texas and Oklahoma through Wednesday.
Flash Flood Watches are in effect for most of Texas and Oklahoma through Wednesday.

All of this heavy rain is also causing lakes to overflow – including Lake Ray Roberts in Denton, Texas. Rising waters could wash out some roads and properties that are downstream as more rain is expected. Lake Ray Roberts has risen over 7 feet in the past week, and is almost 15 feet higher than just three months ago.