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NWS Warns of Severe Thunderstorms in Mid-Mississippi/Ohio Valleys, Central Appalachians

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The US National Weather Service has said the region stretching from the mid-Mississippi Valley into parts of the Ohio Valley and central Appalachians could face severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts on Wednesday night.

Portions of the Ohio Valley could face significant flash and urban flooding due to heavy rains linked to the storms.

Meanwhile, the region from the Central Plains to the Southeast continues to experience mid-summer heat, the agency said.

The NWS early Wednesday issued a red flag warning for Washington's Wenatchee, Chelan, Omak, Winthrop, Republic, Coulee Dam, Colville, and Spokane. PacifiCorp unit Pacific Power, Avista (AVA) subsidiary Avista Utilities and Puget Sound Energy are among the primary electricity service providers in the state.

A red flag warning was also raised for Idaho's Bonners Fry, Sandpoint, and Coeur D Alene, primarily served by Avista Utilities.

The NWS issued an extreme heat warning for Missouri's Joplin, Nevada, Clinton, Sedalia, Osage Beach, Jefferson City, Camdenton, Columbia, Boonville, Warrensburg, Harrisonville, Buttler, Washington, Kansas City, Moberly, Carrollton, and St. Louis. Missouri is primarily served by Evergy (EVRG), Ameren's (AEE) Missouri unit, and Algonquin Power & Utilities (AQN) subsidiary Liberty.

In Kansas, a similar warning was issued for Medicine Lodge, Arkansas City, Sedan, Wellington, Anthony, Iola, Fredonia, Topeka, Manhattan, Kingman, Wichita, El Dorado, Eureka, Howard, Newton, Hutchinson, Emporia, Salina, McPherson, Great Bend, Russell, Lincoln, Ellsworth, Paola, Olathe, Ottawa, Leavenworth, Atchison, and Concordia. Evergy (EVRG) is among the major electricity providers in the state.

Affected areas in Arkansas include Little Rock, Conway, Brinkley, Searcy, Batesville, and Jonesboro, which primarily fall under the service area of Entergy's (ETR) Arkansas unit.

Also placed under extreme heat warnings were Mississippi's Clarksdale, served by Entergy's Mississippi unit; and Chester and areas near Carlinville and Vandalia in Illinois, where Ameren's (AEE) Illinois unit is the primary service provider.

The NWS issued a flood warning for Ohio's New Lexington, and areas near Jackson and Zanesville. These places are primarily served by FirstEnergy (FE) subsidiary Ohio Edison and the Ohio units of AES (AES) and American Electric Power (AEP).

In Indiana, a flash flood warning was raised for Madison, Seymour, Greensburg, and Muncie, with parts of Seymour and Greensburg also placed under a flood warning. Duke Energy (DUK), and the Indiana unit of AES are among the major service providers in these places.

Lexington in Kentucky was covered by a flash flood warning, while a severe thunderstorm warning was raised for Frankfort.

The NWS also issued severe thunderstorm warnings for Cedar Rapids in Iowa; and Norfolk and areas near Tekamah and Columbus in Nebraska. Areas near Norfolk were also covered under a flash flood warning.

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