• The heaviest rain is expected in a swath from Arkansas to Ohio, with some areas potentially seeing over a foot of rain.
• Record flooding is possible along major rivers.
• The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for 32 million people.

With meteorologists using words such as “generational,” “historic,” and “life-threatening,” the forecast for heavy rain and flooding in the central U.S. over the next few days is looking dire.

“This isn’t routine,” the National Weather Service in Memphis said. “This is a rare, high-impact, and potentially devastating event. Heavy rainfall will likely lead to widespread river, flash, and areal flooding.”

The heaviest rain is likely in a swath from Arkansas to Ohio, where many areas should see more than a foot of rain by the time the storm ends on Sunday.

“Communities throughout the area should prepare now for the possibility of long duration and severe disruptions to daily life given the expected extreme rainfall and flood risk,” the weather service said.

Where is the heaviest rain expected?

The epicenter of the rain and floods should be in the mid-South:

By Thursday, “there is a ‘high risk’ for excessive rainfall for western Kentucky, the Missouri Bootheel, northwestern Tennessee, and extreme northeastern Arkansas where widespread, life-threatening flash flooding is expected,” the weather service said.

Heavy rain expected in Kentucky

Some of the heaviest rain is also expected along the Ohio River between Kentucky and Illinois, where the weather service in Paducah, Kentucky, warned of “catastrophic” flooding:

“Forecast rainfall amounts may end up in historic ranges leading to significant and potentially catastrophic flash flooding across the area. By Saturday evening as much as 10 to 12 inches of rain is anticipated across parts of the region. Flooding in areas that do not normally flood is anticipated.”

Which rivers are likely to flood?

The major rivers most likely to have significant water level rises include the Ohio, Wabash, White, St. Francis, Kentucky and Tennessee, according to AccuWeather.

Where is record flooding possible?

Record flooding is possible in Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri and Mississippi:

Map shows U.S. weather watches and warnings

A flood watch is in effect for 32 million people in the central U.S., all the way from Texas to Ohio.