Storms will sweep into the South and East today as dry air gives the mid-Mississippi Valley a brief break from heavy rain. Another storm later this week will bring a renewed threat of
flooding in the mid-Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee valleys.
According to the
Severe Weather Center, the strongest storms today will erupt along a stalled cold front from East Texas to Alabama.
While the storms are not expected to produce widespread severe weather, some locally severe storms could develop.
The
South Regional News story reports by this evening, storms will move to the Eastern Seaboard from the interior
of Virginia to Florida. Some spotty showers and storms could be over the coast earlier in the day with a moist onshore flow.
The speed of the storms on Monday reduced the threat of tornadoes, with five reported along with more than 100 reports of hail and strong winds.
Some centers in the Midwest broke long-standing daily rainfall records on Monday. Chicago, Ill., reported 1.19 inches, tying the old record set in 1993. Muskegon, Mich., broke its 82-year old record
with 1.56 inches of rain, while Rolla, Mo., set a new record with 1.05 inches. The previous record of 1.01 inches was established in 1904.
Meanwhile, heavy snow fell Monday in the Rockies west of Denver, Colo. One person was killed and more than 20 people were treated for injuries following a massive chain-reaction crash involving at
least 50 vehicles on Interstate 70 on the west side of Vail Pass.
 |
| Utility crews repair downed power lines after strong winds from an apparent tornado caused damage and injuries in Buffalo, Mo., Monday, March 31, 2008. (AP Photo/Mark
Schiefelbein) |
According to the Colorado State Patrol, more than 10 inches of heavy wet snow contributed to the pileup that forced the closure of I-70 from early afternoon until late Monday night.
Rainfall totals over the 24-hour period ending at 2 a.m. EDT include:
- St. Charles, Mo.: 2.39 inches
- West Memphis, Ark.: 2.37 inches
- Audubon, Iowa: 2.18 inches
- Siloam Springs, Ark.: 2.01 inches
The
Midwest Regional News story reports that gusty winds today will wrap around the storm across the Upper
Midwest. Western Pennsylvania and western upstate New York will record gusts that could exceed 40 mph.
The
East Regional News story reports mild air surging ahead of the storm today will produce a warm wet day in the
Northeast. Rain will fall over the region during the day.
Overnight, the rain will turn to snow showers across upstate New York into western Maine.
On the back side of the storm today, moisture and cold air will wrap into the Great Lakes. The
Winter Weather Center reports 1 to 3
inches of snow will fall over the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to northern Lower Michigan.
Meanwhile, the
West Regional News story reports rain will return to California on Wednesday as a storm slams into
the central part of the state . By Wednesday afternoon, the rain will spread into the central valleys and coastal areas of Southern California.
According to Expert Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosknowski, the system will regenerate on Thursday as it drops out of the Rockies onto the southern Plains.
Spotty thunderstorms will develop late on Wednesday across the southern Plains.
By Thursday, a deep dip in the jet stream and plenty of moisture will spark an outbreak of severe storms stretching from Texas to Missouri.
The late-week storm system will be slower than the storm on Monday. As a result, the heavy rain and thunderstorms will increase the flood threat in the mid-Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee valleys.
Warm air today is spreading into the Northeast ahead of the storm system. Temperatures will climb into the the 60s from southern New England to Maryland and the 70s in the mid-Atlantic states.
The taste of spring will be a cruel April Fool's joke. By Wednesday, cold air returns ahead of the late-week storm.
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