Devastating, life-threatening floods have already started in some states as an atmospheric river causes heavy rainfall.

A map from the USGS showed that some rivers were 23,000 percent of their normal median level or higher as of Friday morning.

And river towns across the South and Midwest piled up sandbags ahead of a weekend when forecasters expect intense rain and major floods. The preparations for heavy flooding intensified on Thursday ...

Her home was at least 50 yards from the river on an upward slope. FEMA’s maps rated her property’s flood risk as “minimal”—based on outdated models that focus on coastal surges and major ...