There are reports of multiple people being swept away by flooding in Virginia as tens of millions of people are at risk of dangerous flash floods in pockets of nearly every region of the contiguous United States Friday,

Drivers are being urged to be cautious as heavy rainfall has led to a number of roads flooding. Bad weather has hit parts of Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex after weeks of sunshine and warm temperatures. While the rain is due to ease to isolated showers, a Met Office yellow weather warning for thunderstorms remains in place until 21:00 BST.

Storm drains along Interstate 435, a beltway that encircles most of the Kansas City metropolitan area, were unable to keep up during the deluge, he said, causing the highway to flood. Most of the rescues from vehicles took place at the highway’s 23rd St. exit, he said.