Up to 6 Inches of Rain Will Raise Risk of Flooding in the South This Week
Christy Bowen
2 hours agoThe southern flank of the U.S. is being warned to be on alert for flash flooding issues as a surge of tropical moisture takes aim at a zone from Texas to Georgia. Who is in the path of this potential flooding rainfall, and when will the most potent rain bands arrive? We have everything that you need to know right here.
Repeated Rounds of Tropical Moisture Could Spell Trouble for the Southern U.S.
Forecasters are putting the Gulf Coast and parts of the Southeast on guard for flooding rainfall in the days ahead. The steady stream of moisture fired up on Sunday and is forecast to persist into the middle of the week. The continual bouts of precipitation flowing up from the Gulf will inevitably raise the risk of flash flooding through Wednesday.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has been monitoring an area of potential tropical development in the Gulf for days. While the zone has been assigned a low chance of formal development in the next seven days by the NHC, it will still carry enough moisture to produce slow-moving downpours to those in its path. The influx of tropical moisture is expected to meet with a stalled frontal boundary along the Gulf Coast to enhance these rainfall totals.
The latest forecast models are predicting widespread rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches in a zone from coastal Texas to the east into the southeastern U.S. Locally higher amounts of 4 to 8 inches are on the table for some areas of northeastern Louisiana, South Texas, and south-central Mississippi.
The heavy rain that moved into Texas to end the weekend will inch to the east along the Gulf Coast and the Southeast on Monday and Tuesday. The biggest concern is the possibility of rain that falls at a rate of 2 to 3 inches per hour at times. Rainfall of this magnitude so quickly could trigger rapid rises in water in areas that are prone to flooding.
The heaviest bands of rain are forecast to set up to the east of Texas Hill County. Motorists traveling on portions of interstates 10, 20, 35, 55, 75, and 85 over the next few days will want to be prepared for a slow go during times of heavy rain. In addition to ponding on the roadways, the sheets of rain will also contribute to visibility concerns. Some of the region's secondary roads may also be forced to close for a short period because of high water.
If there is any silver lining in this forecast, it is that some of the South is in dire need of moisture. Any non-flooding rainfall will be welcome in the drought-stricken region.