Dangerous flash flooding unfolded in Arkansas and Missouri after months of rain fell in just a few hours Wednesday morning.

A rare flash flood emergency was issued for around 5,000 people in Yellville and surrounding areas of Marion County after 6 to 11 inches of rain fell in just four to five hours, according to the National Weather Service. The area typically receives just 3.5 to 4 inches of rain in the entire month of July.

The extreme rainfall rate would be expected once in 500 years, the kind of intense rainfall becoming more common as the world warms due to fossil fuel pollution.

“This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW!” the NWS in Little Rock warned.

The flash flood emergency expired mid-morning Wednesday, but serious flooding issues continued across the region into the early afternoon.

Flash flood warnings were in effect Wednesday morning for portions of northern Arkansas, parts of far southeastern Kansas and southern Missouri, including Branson, where roughly 14,000 people live. Seven inches of rain fell in less than six hours in Branson, a once-in-1,000 year rainfall rate. Turkey Creek at Hollister, Missouri, just south of Branson, rose 12 feet in two hours Wednesday morning.

A majority of these warnings expired by early Wednesday afternoon, but the flooding still left behind damage.

At least one bridge in Marion County was washed out by flooding, according to the county’s social media. Other roads were inundated, and all government offices were closed Wednesday.

People were urged by officials not to venture out onto roads that were “flooded and not safe” in Flippin, also in Marion County.

“We are experiencing some major flooding in our area. Emergency personnel are out and working diligently. Please use extreme caution if you feel the need to travel,” Flippin Police Chief John Spence wrote on social media Wednesday morning.

Heavy rain pounded northern Arkansas and southern Missouri through much of the morning, but only light rain remained by the afternoon. Lingering showers will come to an end by the evening and the area will remain dry into at least Saturday.

Flash flood emergencies are the most serious flood warning and occur rarely when compared to more common flood or flash flood warnings. But Wednesday’s flash flood emergency was the 48th to occur in the US this year.

CNN’s Sara Tonks, Brandon Miller and Rebekah Riess contributed to this report.