After Rain Deluge, Rare Winter Floods on Mississippi River

Warm and wet weather over the last several weeks followed by storms that brought a deluge of rain in recent days have produced a severe threat of flooding along the Mississippi River, where water could reach record high levels soon in some places. The winter flooding is unusual and could portend even worse problems in the spring depending on weather the rest of the season. Here's a look at what is prompting the concern: RECORD CRESTS The sudden flooding along the Mississippi River is both rare and historic. At a time of the year when both precipitation and the river level typically are well below normal, there could be record crests in some places along the Mississippi. http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/rain-deluge-rare-winter-floods-mississippi-river-35986844

The Siege of Miami

The city of Miami Beach floods on such a predictable basis that if, out of curiosity or sheer perversity, a person wants to she can plan a visit to coincide with an inundation. Knowing the tides would be high around the time of the “super blood moon,” in late September, I arranged to meet up with Hal Wanless, the chairman of the University of Miami’s geological-sciences department. Wanless, who is seventy-three, has spent nearly half a century studying how South Florida came into being. From this, he’s concluded that much of the region may have less than half a century more to go. http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/12/21/the-siege-of-miami

Flooding forces mass evacuations in South America

(CNN)Floods displaced more than 150,000 people in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay this week after days of torrential rains blamed on El Niño. In Paraguay, which was the hardest-hit, more than 130,000 people were evacuated. In Alberdi city, residents fled as walls holding back water appeared on the verge of collapse, authorities said. Argentina had 20,000 evacuees, half of them from Concordia city, which President Mauricio Macri will visit Sunday. http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/27/americas/south-america-flooding/

Alabama Braces for Flooding After Tornado, Severe Weather

Alabama was on alert Saturday for more extreme flooding, a day after a tornado touched down in Birmingham and left a two-square-mile swath of destruction. Heavy rains and flooding continue to hammer the state — along with much of the Southeast — in a deluge of downpours since Wednesday. http://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/tornado-hits-birmingham-severe-southern-weather-continues-n486011

UK floods: Extra soldiers sent to stricken areas

Leeds has also been badly affected, with 1,000 homes flooded, but the city's council leader said the government had been warned "a major flood... was a catastrophe waiting to happen". "While now is the time to focus on the wellbeing of our residents and the condition of their properties and possessions, we will again be calling on the government for further significant investment in additional flood defences," Judith Blake added. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35184999

SEE IT: Dutch family drives through California wildfire: 'I was terrified and in a total shock'

Maks said sparks and a burning bush hit their car on the Southern California freeway, and they barely saw anything because of the smoke. A passenger in the car can he heard yelling "we will catch fire!" "I was terrified and in a total shock," Maks told CNN. "In the end, it only took a few seconds, but it felt like an hour." She told CNN that their car "could have exploded." http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/dutch-family-drives-california-wildfire-article-1.2477897

Texas Reeling as 'Crippling' Blizzard to Follow Deadly Tornadoes

Eight people were killed in Garland, which was hit by what Ari Sarsalari, a meteorologist for The Weather Channel, called "a violent tornado with a long path." "It was terrifying," Randy Gore, who drove up to an impact scene where five people were killed, told NBC Dallas-Fort Worth. "It was heartbreaking, especially being the day after Christmas." Officials in Collin County confirmed three deaths, two of them at a Copeville gas station that was destroyed in the storms. http://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/texas-reeling-crippling-blizzard-follow-deadly-tornadoes-n486371

UK floods: 'This could be the end for our business'

Some 500 soldiers have been brought in to deal with "unprecedented" flooding in Yorkshire and Lancashire. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35187597

Nearly 30 killed in Christmas season storms, tornadoes hitting U.S

Storms hit southern and central U.S. states over the Christmas holiday unleashing torrential rains and tornadoes that left nearly 30 people dead, toppled buildings and snarled transportation for millions during a busy travel time. At least 11 people were killed in the Dallas area over the weekend by tornadoes, including one packing winds of up to 200 miles per hour (322 km per hour). That twister hit the city of Garland, killing eight people and blowing vehicles off highways. "A tornado of that strength is very rare in a metropolitan area," National Weather Service meteorologist Matt Bishop said in a telephone interview. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-weather-holiday-idUSKBN0U90DX20151227