More rain, thunderstorms, and sporadic flash floods are expected to fall on the southern US region from today through the weekend due to a high-pressure system.
Multiple rounds of additional rain are anticipated to drench the region, extending the South's lengthy rain event, which started on Sunday, at least through Saturday.
A high-pressure system over the Gulf of Mexico is forcing warm, humid air into the southern states, but cooler, drier air is descending behind a cold front and is being supported by the jet stream in the middle of the country. The South is being used as the battleground by a stationary front.
To start the weekend with rain and thunderstorms, low-pressure areas and storm energy fragments will continue to ride along the front.
Jason Frazer, a meteorologist from FOX Weather, said that roadways are quite slick, and drivers are driving a little more slowly. He continued that the driver should be doing this, slowing down, as they travel to work or school.
Wednesday
From parts of West and North Texas eastward through the lower Mississippi Valley and into Tennessee and eastern and southern Kentucky, a stronger round of heavy rain is predicted.
Over isolated areas of Oklahoma, Arkansas, North Texas, Tennessee, southern Missouri, and northern Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia, this rain may cause flash flooding. The good news is that the continued drought will lessen the risk of flash floods.
On occasion Wednesday, it might stop raining, but those moments will only last a short while because more showers are forming close to the stationary front that is covering the South.
Thursday to Friday
According to the FOX Forecast Center, on Thursday over the central US, the following organized storm system will develop. It will move eastward this weekend.
In Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, heavier rain is expected to start Thursday morning. Later that day, it will move eastward toward Kentucky and Tennessee, where it will occasionally persist through Friday.
Frazer said that because this rainy pattern will continue to unload a few inches of rain, they strongly advise drivers to drive slowly on the roads.
Saturday
A final round of light rain is anticipated to develop by Saturday from areas of Texas and Oklahoma to Kentucky and Tennessee and eventually extend south into areas of Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Georgia as a new upper-level disturbance swing in from the west.
How much rain will fall?
After multiple days of rain this week, a widespread area of the South from central Oklahoma eastward to southern Kentucky and Tennessee will likely pick up 1 to 3 inches of rainfall.
As much as 3 to 5 inches of rain is possible across parts of eastern Oklahoma, southern Missouri, and Arkansas.
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Drought Conditions
A significant portion of South America is still experiencing moderate to severe drought, according to the US Drought Monitor. Additionally, some people are dealing with severe to extreme drought.
Due to the ongoing drought, the rain will largely be beneficial for this area. However, if it comes down too rapidly or repeatedly drenches the same areas, it could cause flash flooding.
Some Southern cities may have experienced rain for the majority of the previous 12 days by early the following week, FOX Weather reports.
Brief Weather Update for the Rest of the US
This weekend, a Pacific storm is anticipated to affect the West, according to the National Weather Service. With showers and thunderstorms, the aforementioned storm is anticipated to form over the southern areas of the High Plains today and will track to the Mid-Atlantic approaching Friday.
Over the central Plains, ice, snow, and/or a wintry mix are possible on the northern edge. A significant storm is predicted to hit the West late on Friday and last through the weekend, bringing rain, blustery winds, and heavy mountain snow.
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