Flash Flood Warning Issued for Southern Illinois and Southeastern Missouri Through Early Thursday

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Paducah, KY, has issued a Flash Flood Warning (FFWPAH) for portions of southern Illinois and southeastern Missouri. This alert was issued at 12:49 AM CST on March 5, 2026, following radar indications of heavy rainfall in the region.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following geographic regions:

• Southern Illinois: Northwestern Alexander County, Southern Johnson County, Northwestern Pulaski County, and Southern Union County.
• Southeastern Missouri: East Central Cape Girardeau County.

Specific locations expected to experience flash flooding include Cape Girardeau, Jonesboro, Vienna, Dongola, Ullin, Cypress, Belknap, Mill Creek, and East Cape Girardeau.

What You Should Do

Residents and travelers in the warned area are urged to take immediate precautions:

• Turn around, don’t drown: Do not attempt to drive through flooded roads. Most flood-related deaths occur in vehicles.
• Avoid low-lying areas: Stay away from small creeks, streams, and underpasses.
• Monitor conditions: Be aware of your surroundings and move to higher ground if flooding is observed.

Expected Conditions

Doppler radar indicates that thunderstorms are producing heavy rain across the warned area. As of 12:49 AM CST, between 2 and 3 inches of rain have already fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible.

Expected impacts include flash flooding of:

• Small creeks and streams
• Urban areas and streets
• Highways and underpasses
• Poor drainage and low-lying areas

Timeline

The Flash Flood Warning is effective immediately and is scheduled to expire at 6:00 AM CST on March 5, 2026. Flash flooding is currently ongoing or expected to begin shortly.