Midwestern states brace for historic flooding

Areas of the central United States are on high alert in anticipation of record flooding on Monday, CNN reported, with 3.6 million people under a flash flood watch and a total of 50 million at risk of other "severe weather impacts."

This weather warning comes on the heels of spring storms that have already proven deadly in the midwest. Five deaths have been reported so far in Missouri, one in Iowa, and six in Oklahoma, after strong winds, hail, flooding, and an extreme number of tornadoes.

States are preparing in various ways for the severe weather, which in many places is expected to continue on through this week. Tulsa, Oklahoma, has increased the release rate of its Keystone Dam, and warned residents and businesses near the Arkansas River to "remain vigilant" for rising water. Arkansas on Sunday activated its State Emergency Operations Center, having declared a state of emergency and begun evacuations for several at-risk counties.

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At the height of the flooding, the Arkansas River is expected to reach a depth of 42.5 feet late Tuesday into Wednesday, breaking the record set back in 1945. Flooding has already reached 38 feet in some areas, and is still climbing. Read more at CNN.