April 2 (Bloomberg) -- For the rain-drenched Midwest, April may indeed prove the cruelest month.

As much as 4 inches of rain is forecast tonight and tomorrow in Missouri and nearby states, a region already struggling after two months of record precipitation. The National Weather Service warned today of floods and flash floods.

In Springfield, Missouri, rivers have topped their banks, low-lying roads sit under water and farm fields have become giant mud puddles, said Doug Cramer, a meteorologist at the city's National Weather Service office.

``The water table is brimming just below our feet,'' Cramer said in an interview. ``There's nowhere for more rain to go.''

The storm should arrive late tonight in southern Missouri and much of northern Arkansas. It carries with it the threat of damaging hail and tornadoes, Cramer said.

Two days ago, nine tornadoes touched down in Missouri, damaging structures in Buffalo. No injuries were reported.

Springfield set rainfall records of 9.4 inches (24 centimeters) for the month of March and 6.4 inches for February. Other parts of the state, such as West Plains, received a record- setting 14.8 inches last month. In ``The Waste Land,'' T.S. Eliot warned that April is ``the cruellest month.''

`Large Hail'

``Thunderstorms will be capable of producing all modes of severe weather, including large hail, damaging wind and a few tornadoes,'' the National Weather Service said in an afternoon warning.

As many as four people died in Missouri floods last month, and five more were killed in nearby states such as Kentucky, Texas and Arkansas amid record-setting rains.

Today's flood warnings stretch from eastern Oklahoma, across southern Missouri and northern Arkansas, through southern Illinois and Indiana, and into western Kentucky.

Flash floods differ from floods, which usually develop slowly as rivers, streams or ditches swell with rainwater.

More sudden and potentially deadly, flash floods can occur within minutes in a heavy rain, sweeping through city streets or mountain canyons and carrying away people, cars and even homes.

Missouri's rocky and hilly terrain, which still lacks spring vegetation to absorb the rainfall, is especially vulnerable, Cramer said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Demian McLean in Washington at dmclean8@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: April 2, 2008 15:39 EDT