Drenching thunderstorms, downpours hammer Texas
By
Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Apr 3, 2020 3:22 PM EST
A developing weather pattern will not only unleash severe weather across Texas, but it will also threaten repeated downpours and flooding problems into the second week of April. Even though the torrential rainfall will cause hazards, it could put a substantial dent in the drought conditions gripping parts of the Lone Star State.
Much of the central and southern parts of the state have been experiencing abnormally dry to severe drought conditions in recent months due to a significant deficit in rainfall. In Brownsville, Texas, only 6% of normal rain has fallen for the month with a mere 0.07 of an inch.
The United States Drought Monitor reported that the Lower Rio Grande Valley has been hit hard with extreme drought conditions, although a secondary zone near the southeastern coast is enduring extreme drought conditions as well.
Relief is coming in the form of repetitive showers and thunderstorms. Without a doubt, any non-excessive rainfall going into the growing season is a plus, especially following a dry winter and start to spring.
However, the early stages of the weather pattern lead to heavy, gusty and locally severe thunderstorms Friday afternoon and evening.
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The majority of the storms throughout the area began to fall short of severe thunderstorm criteria by Friday night, but the remaining storms continued to produce torrential downpours, brief gusty winds and loud thunder across southern Texas.
To be considered a severe thunderstorm, a storm must produce hail that is at least 1 inch in diameter or larger, and/or wind gusts of 58 mph or greater and/or a tornado.
Despite the precipitation being beneficial in the long term, downpours will quickly unleash excessive rainfall in some communities, escalating enough to cause concerns such as flash flooding.
"The main risk to lives and property through this weekend will be from flooding and flash flooding," Knopick said.
Widespread rainfall of 1-3 inches is forecast over southern and eastern Texas through Saturday evening alone -- and showers and thunderstorms are likely to persist over the general area on Sunday and into much of next week.
Through Sunday, an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 7 inches is forecast with the heaviest rain potentially focusing near and west of Interstate 35 to the Hill Country and Big Bend area of Texas.
The pattern will evolve into next week as downpours become less intense over a broad area. However, isolated locations may continue to experience the risk of flash flooding as soil conditions transition from dry to moist to saturated.
Forecasters urge motorists to avoid driving through flooded areas as high water can disguise damaged or totally washed away road surfaces. Only 6 inches to a foot of water can be enough to cause a vehicle to be swept away. On average, over a recent 10-year period, flooding is the second greatest cause of weather-related fatalities in the U.S., according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
Ninety-five people are killed per year, on average, due to flooding. More people die in flooding than in tornadoes, which claim 89 lives annually on average.
Those venturing outdoors for a break from their confinement should closely monitor the weather for rapidly changing conditions. When thunder can be heard, a storm is close enough for lightning to strike. The inside a home or building or a fully enclosed structure, such as a vehicle with the windows rolled up, is the only adequate shelter from lightning. A pavilion or awning does not offer proper protection.
It is possible that the risk of severe thunderstorms rebounds toward the middle of next week over central and southeastern Texas and in other parts of the South Central states, depending on the amount of sunshine and warmth that builds. Enough moisture will already be in place to fuel storms capable of turning violent.
"The risk of drenching rain and thunderstorms is forecast to expand or shift toward of the lower Mississippi Valley next week where the soil is already saturated and rivers are already high from months of well-above-average rain this past winter," AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said.
A storm forecast to impact California and the southwestern U.S. for several days may bring yet another round of downpours and potential severe weather later next week and next weekend over the South Central states.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo
News / Severe Weather
Drenching thunderstorms, downpours hammer Texas
By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Apr 3, 2020 3:22 PM EST
A developing weather pattern will not only unleash severe weather across Texas, but it will also threaten repeated downpours and flooding problems into the second week of April. Even though the torrential rainfall will cause hazards, it could put a substantial dent in the drought conditions gripping parts of the Lone Star State.
Much of the central and southern parts of the state have been experiencing abnormally dry to severe drought conditions in recent months due to a significant deficit in rainfall. In Brownsville, Texas, only 6% of normal rain has fallen for the month with a mere 0.07 of an inch.
The United States Drought Monitor reported that the Lower Rio Grande Valley has been hit hard with extreme drought conditions, although a secondary zone near the southeastern coast is enduring extreme drought conditions as well.
Relief is coming in the form of repetitive showers and thunderstorms. Without a doubt, any non-excessive rainfall going into the growing season is a plus, especially following a dry winter and start to spring.
However, the early stages of the weather pattern lead to heavy, gusty and locally severe thunderstorms Friday afternoon and evening.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
The majority of the storms throughout the area began to fall short of severe thunderstorm criteria by Friday night, but the remaining storms continued to produce torrential downpours, brief gusty winds and loud thunder across southern Texas.
To be considered a severe thunderstorm, a storm must produce hail that is at least 1 inch in diameter or larger, and/or wind gusts of 58 mph or greater and/or a tornado.
Despite the precipitation being beneficial in the long term, downpours will quickly unleash excessive rainfall in some communities, escalating enough to cause concerns such as flash flooding.
"The main risk to lives and property through this weekend will be from flooding and flash flooding," Knopick said.
Widespread rainfall of 1-3 inches is forecast over southern and eastern Texas through Saturday evening alone -- and showers and thunderstorms are likely to persist over the general area on Sunday and into much of next week.
Through Sunday, an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 7 inches is forecast with the heaviest rain potentially focusing near and west of Interstate 35 to the Hill Country and Big Bend area of Texas.
Related:
The pattern will evolve into next week as downpours become less intense over a broad area. However, isolated locations may continue to experience the risk of flash flooding as soil conditions transition from dry to moist to saturated.
Forecasters urge motorists to avoid driving through flooded areas as high water can disguise damaged or totally washed away road surfaces. Only 6 inches to a foot of water can be enough to cause a vehicle to be swept away. On average, over a recent 10-year period, flooding is the second greatest cause of weather-related fatalities in the U.S., according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
Ninety-five people are killed per year, on average, due to flooding. More people die in flooding than in tornadoes, which claim 89 lives annually on average.
Those venturing outdoors for a break from their confinement should closely monitor the weather for rapidly changing conditions. When thunder can be heard, a storm is close enough for lightning to strike. The inside a home or building or a fully enclosed structure, such as a vehicle with the windows rolled up, is the only adequate shelter from lightning. A pavilion or awning does not offer proper protection.
It is possible that the risk of severe thunderstorms rebounds toward the middle of next week over central and southeastern Texas and in other parts of the South Central states, depending on the amount of sunshine and warmth that builds. Enough moisture will already be in place to fuel storms capable of turning violent.
"The risk of drenching rain and thunderstorms is forecast to expand or shift toward of the lower Mississippi Valley next week where the soil is already saturated and rivers are already high from months of well-above-average rain this past winter," AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said.
A storm forecast to impact California and the southwestern U.S. for several days may bring yet another round of downpours and potential severe weather later next week and next weekend over the South Central states.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo