More Rounds of Heavy Rain in Store for Southern Third of Country

The severe weather assault is set to continue across the south-central U.S. through the long holiday weekend and into early next week. Here is an updated look at the volatile conditions that will not let up anytime soon in this part of the country.

Stormy Conditions to Persist Through the Holiday Weekend

Mother Nature has not handed the south-central U.S. any favors this week. Powerful winds, damaging hail, and the risk of flash flooding are just some of the threats facing the region over the next few days. The timing of the storms when millions of Americans have outdoor plans is particularly concerning. Local officials and meteorologists are warning those with outdoor plans to pay attention to the developing situation and be cognizant of the inherent risks.

The general impact zone for storms through Monday will expand from the Front Range of Colorado and to the east into the southern Plains and the lower Mississippi Valley. The line of storms will also creep as far as the Southeast at times. The immense energy circulating in the upper levels of the atmosphere will pair with a surge of moisture to ignite the daily rounds of heavy rain and severe thunderstorms. Cities in the line of fire over the next few days include Dallas, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Little Rock, and Memphis.

Saturday's activity stretched farther to the west, putting areas in and around Denver at risk. The storms also dipped as far as the Big Bend region of Texas. Sunday's threats are expected to impact the same general area.

A higher concentration of widespread storms is forecast to take aim at Oklahoma and northern Texas on Sunday. Residents in this zone will need to prepare for the chance of damaging winds and large hail. You also cannot rule out the threat of isolated tornadoes with these potent storm cells.

Thunderstorm activity is also forecast to expand to the southeastern corner of the country on Sunday. The storms are primed to form along a front that is separating an area of cooler temperatures to the north and the hot and humid conditions circulating in the south.