Central and Eastern U.S. on Alert for Severe Storms in Days Ahead

A large swath of land stretching from Texas and into southern New England will be in the crosshairs of frequent rain and thunderstorms in the days ahead. Here is a look at the rinse and repeat weather pattern setting up for millions of Americans.

Wet Start to May for Central and Eastern U.S.

The first week of May will be marked by several waves of moisture spreading across the central and eastern U.S. While this pattern is typical for this time of the spring season, it will still be a bit of a nuisance for those with outdoor plans. The threat of severe weather will also present its own set of risks.

The weather forecast is a mixed blessing for many communities. Drought conditions have become an increasing concern for the south-central U.S. and parts of the Northeast. The rain will certainly help to chip away at the ongoing drought. The flip side is that the persistent stream of moisture will raise the risk of flash flooding.

The weekend forecast served as a harbinger of things to come for the eastern edge of the nation. Heavy rain fell at times through the weekend with thunderstorms also roaming the region and ruining outdoor activities. Gusty conditions added to the misery at times.

The initial storm system has been displaced from the jet stream flow, slowing down the weather maker as it trains over the Ohio Valley. The stalling of this system is forecast to support the continual flow of moisture across the mid-Atlantic and the Northeast into the start of the new work week.

In addition to the copious amounts of precipitation, severe storms could also pop up with little to no warning. Potential impacts of these storm cells include high winds, hail, and torrential rainfall.

Looking at the Monday forecast, tourists in New York City will want to pack their rain gear. The forecast is calling for persistent rain that totals about a half of an inch. The cloud cover will keep it cooler in the Big Apple with highs hovering in the mid 60s. Overnight lows will slide into the upper 50s as the threat of severe weather increases in the evening hours and lingers after the sun goes down.

It will be a gray and rainy start to the day in the nation's capital. Washington, D.C. is forecast to see rain showers early with partial clearing in the afternoon. The chance of storms will increase again overnight. You can expect a high of about 77 degrees and lows that fall into the low 60s. Winds will be coming from the east-southeast at 10 to 15 mph.

Moving to the north up Interstate 95, Boston will experience significantly cooler temperatures with a forecast high of 53 degrees. The forecast is also predicting cloudy conditions with occasional rain showers, winds out of the northeast at 10 to 15 mph, and an overnight low that slips just a few notches to 50 degrees.

What to Expect in the Central U.S.

Another storm system is expected to become more organized as it churns across the central U.S. This system will ignite another threat of rain and powerful thunderstorms across the nation's heartland. The storm got its start in the Pacific Ocean, reaching the western U.S. over the weekend before continuing its journey to the east. Forecasters are predicting that the system will feed on the moisture-rich air coming up from the Gulf to fuel its further intensification through the early part of the week.

Flash flooding and river flooding are potential concerns in the coming days across parts of Texas and the Gulf Coast. This part of the country has been in the crosshairs for heavy rainfall over the last week, meaning that the grounds are overly saturated and waterways are filling beyond their banks in some areas.

Large hail will be another concern on Monday. Some parts of West Texas could see hail that measures the size of tennis balls as storms come to life on Monday afternoon and evening.

Gusty crosswinds could complicate travel for motorists using interstates 10 and 20 across the western and central portions of the Lone Star State. Motorists using high-profile vehicles should be especially careful about this risk.

Places such as Odessa, Texas, are forecast to see isolated thunderstorms during the afternoon, becoming more widespread in the evening and overnight hours. Meteorologists are sending out the alert that some of the storms could turn severe at times. Highs will reach about 80 degrees before falling into the upper 50s overnight. Winds will clock in at speeds of 15 to 25 mph out of the south-southeast during the day, increasing to 20 to 30 mph after the sun goes down.

Amarillo will be in the heart of Monday's storm action. This area of the Texas Panhandle is bracing for winds out of the southeast at 20 to 30 mph with the likelihood of higher gusts. Thunderstorms in the morning will weaken to straight rain showers during the afternoon. There is the possibility of periods of heavy rainfall overnight. It will be significantly cooler in this part of the state when compared to places such as Odessa. For instance, Amarillo will max out with a high of about 55 degrees on Monday, a change of over 20 degrees from Sunday's high. Overnight lows will land in the upper 40s.

Tuesday's Forecast Will Feel Like Groundhog Day

Tuesday's forecast is calling for more of the same. The primary impact zone for heavy rain and storms on this day will be throughout central and eastern Texas, the southeastern corner of Oklahoma, and into Louisiana and Arkansas. Flash flooding will be the most significant threat on this day due to the intensity of the rainfall. Meteorologists are warning that rainfall amounts could eclipse 1 to 2 inches per hour.

Looking at the rest of the week, more rain and severe weather are on the horizon for the central U.S. as well as the Southeast. Localized flooding will continue to be a cause of concern for eastern Texas and down into the Gulf Coast region. Stay tuned for another update on this ongoing situation.

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