Flash floods: Torrential rains bring danger to six states

Torrential downpours from Texas through the Mississippi River area brought flash floods Wednesday as the region coped with a slow-moving storm system bringing winds, rain and possibly some tornadoes.

The National Weather Service posted flood and flash flood warnings for parts of eastern Texas, eastern Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri and western Mississippi, where up to 10 inches of rain have fallen.

“A slow-moving cold front will continue to be a focus for heavy rain and thunderstorms across this area, as well as across eastern Arkansas,” according to the weather service.

“Some roads are already flooded and closed ... and additional heavy rainfall will continue to produce more flash flooding” in northwest Louisiana, the weather service said. “This is an extremely dangerous situation.”

Tornado watches were posted for southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana.

Tornadoes touched down in the San Antonio area earlier this week, damaging at least 30 buildings, the Medina County sheriff’s office said in an email. At least eight injuries, none life-threatening, were reported.

Along with the flooding, strong winds were expected, according to the weather service. The unstable area “will remain supportive of embedded super-cell and bowing structures capable of mainly damaging winds and a few tornadoes,” it said.

Strong winds have been raking Arkansas, and tornado warnings were in effect in at least eight counties. There were reports of trees being overturned and some non-life-threatening injuries.

Since Sunday -- when the current front began its damaging march eastward from Texas -- between 3 and 5 inches of rain have fallen in parts of Kansas and Missouri. Flash floods have also been reported in some areas.

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Michael.muskal@latimes.com