3.21.2008 8:48 AM

More Floods Forecast for Swamped U.S.

With Ground Saturated, A Little Rain Will Go A Long Way

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This map shows the flood stage of rivers across the U.S.

Photo: USGS

By Dan Shapley

The floods that have already claimed 13 lives may be only a taste of what is to come, according to numerous reports about the National Weather Service's annual spring outlook.

"In its annual spring outlook released Thursday, the weather service says states where the Mississippi, Ohio and Missouri rivers run are at an above-average risk for flooding," USA Today reported. "Pennsylvania, New York, New England and parts of the West, including Colorado and Idaho, will have a high risk, too, because they have had record rain and snowfall."

It's not so much the rain to come, as the National Weather Service is predicting a generally normal, or even dry, April-June period. But because of the amount of snow and rain built up over frozen ground, because the ground is saturated with water in many places, and because flooded rivers have yet to return to normal levels, additional and serious flooding is likely with or without much additional precipitation.

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