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4d ago

Omega Block Fuels Severe Weather and Flooding Across U.S.

A stalled atmospheric pattern is driving multiday storms, flash floods, and severe weather from Texas to Maine, with risks of hail, tornadoes, and fire danger.

Water vapor imagery revealed an Omega Block pattern setting up across the country May 5,2025, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
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Storm clouds gather during a game between the Washington Nationals and the Cincinnati Reds in the fourth inning at Great American Ball Park on May 4, 2025, in Cincinnati.

Overview

  • The omega block, a stationary high-pressure ridge flanked by two low-pressure systems, is prolonging severe weather across the U.S.
  • Flash flood warnings are active from the Lower Mississippi Valley into the Northeast, with saturated soils amplifying flood risks in Maine and New Hampshire.
  • West Texas and eastern New Mexico face threats of large hail and isolated tornadoes, while Southeast Texas is under a level 2 severe weather outlook.
  • Strong winds in the Southwest have triggered air quality alerts and red-flag warnings for elevated fire danger in Arizona and New Mexico.
  • Forecasts suggest the omega block could persist through midweek, delaying relief from heavy rainfall and storm risks.