A week-long 'triple flood threat' has erupted across several states, bringing potentially life-threatening rainfall to more than 15 million people. Flood watches have been issued in ten states Tuesday morning as meteorologists warn that the widespread effects of Hurricane Polo are merging with leftover moisture from Hurricane Odalys and a dip in the natural jet stream running across the US to create one massive storm. This 'triple flood' is expected to bring the heaviest rainfall to Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas on Tuesday, but the storm threat will continue throughout the entire week. 

The flood watches extend into Utah, Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa, and AccuWeather has predicted that more than two inches of rain could reach Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin by Friday.

AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said in a statement: 'Rainfall rates within the most intense bouts of rainfall [this week] can reach 2-3 inches per hour, which can create a life-threatening situation.' AccuWeather's latest forecast has warned that as much as eight inches of rain could flood parts of Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas this week.

However, the weather service's worst-case scenario noted up to 18 inches of rain could fall in isolated areas. The National Weather Service (NWS) has also issued flash flood warnings in Arizona and New Mexico on Tuesday. They urged anyone in a vehicle to avoid flooded roadways, noting that driving into these conditions is the most common cause of flood deaths. This is a breaking story. More details to follow.