Scholars and designers of early warning systems say that there are still huge gaps in our ability to predict flash floods and warn those at risk.

A flash flood warning was released by the National Weather Service on Saturday at 8:22 p.m. in effect until 11:30 p.m. for Somerset County.

Straighter, smoother streams flow more violently than those that meander due to a reduction in friction. Areas with steeper terrain can see water accelerate downhill at a much faster rate causing a more destructive flash flood than flatter, open areas.

In the Midwest, quarter-sized hail and an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out, while in the South, flood alerts are in effect for areas that were devastated by flash floods last week.

On Saturday at 8:38 p.m. a flash flood warning was released by the National Weather Service in effect until 11:45 p.m. for Franklin County.

The National Weather Service in Pueblo issued a flash flood warning Saturday evening for Costilla and Huerfano counties in southern Colorado. The impacted area is about 35 miles north of the New Mexico state line.

The National Weather Service released a flash flood warning at 1:17 p.m. on Saturday in effect until 3:45 p.m. for Franklin and Hampshire counties.

Back-to-back flooding disasters in recent years — in Texas, New Mexico and Kentucky, among many others — have showed that preparing for flash flooding is a new necessity as the planet warms. And there’s no more dangerous time for a flash flood than after dark;