OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Areas around Lincoln, Omaha, Bellevue and other cities in eastern Nebraska are under a flash flood warning after torrential rains early Tuesday.

The National Weather Service has issued the warning for parts of Lancaster, Douglas, Sarpy, Saunders and Washington counties. The alert also covers a western portion of Pottawattamie County, including Council Bluffs, across the Missouri River in Iowa.

The weather service says up to 2 inches of rain had fallen on those areas overnight — most of it since 4 a.m. Tuesday.

Several low-lying traffic lanes in midtown and downtown Omaha were covered with water before 5 a.m.

The weather service says flooding in those areas could worsen, as more rain is expected in the region throughout the day.