News Climate

What to know about the extreme U.S. flooding — and ways to stay safe

A souped-up atmosphere absorbs — and dumps — more rainfall

A satellite image of heavy precipitation over the United States on July 17, which may cause more flooding.

On the morning of July 17, heavy rains sweep across the United States and move into the Gulf Coast, as seen in this satellite image, a composite of images from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s GOES East and GOES West satellites. Similar storms caused extreme flooding across the country earlier in the month.

NOAA

By Carolyn Gramling

July has washed across the United States with unusually destructive, deadly torrents of rain.