Heavy rain from Georgia to North Carolina is triggering flash flood risks in major cities. More flooding could hit coastal areas later this week, with up to a foot of rain possible if a tropical system develops.

Storms are lashing the East Coast from Virginia to Connecticut, flooding roadways and delaying flights from Boston to Washington, D

A warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, making storms capable of unleashing huge amounts of rain over land. Studies have shown that for every degree Fahrenheit that the planet heats up, the atmosphere can hold around 3% to 4% more moisture. As a result, flooding risks across the country are expected to increase in the coming years.