Severe thunderstorms, flood threat targets the Southeast
By
Brandon Buckingham, AccuWeather Meteorologist
Published Mar 5, 2020 12:49 PM EDT
A powerful thunderstorm drenched Laurel, Mississippi, in the early hours of March 4 with hail and rain, while lightning flashed overhead.
The same storm system that has plagued portions of the South in recent days will continue to inundate the Southeast into Thursday evening before coming to an end across the region.
After a brief lull in the severe weather Wednesday night, yet another round of thunderstorms has erupted in heat and humidity across the part of the region.
The storm system has been a slow mover across the southern tier of the United States so far earlier this week, but the system's eastward progression began to pick up on Thursday. The center of the disturbance is expected to track through the panhandle of Florida and into southern Georgia into midday before exiting off the Atlantic coast by late Thursday evening.
Along this path will likely be a focal point of where thunderstorms can bring severe weather.
Damaging wind gusts, hail, flash flooding and even a few isolated tornadoes will be possible once again as the disturbance slides eastward.
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Cities that will need to remain on alert for the threat of rapidly deteriorating conditions include Tallahassee, Gainesville and Jacksonville, Florida; and also Valdosta and Savannah, Georgia.
This radar loop was captured during Thursday afternoon, March 5, 2020. (AccuWeather)
Farther north, cooler air and less instability will result in moderate to heavy rain at times across much of the Southeast through the day. A few rumbles of thunder may accompany this rainfall but overall, severe weather is not expected in northern Georgia and into the Carolinas.
Many locales across Alabama, Georgia and portions of South Carolina have picked up between 1 to 3 inches of rainfall this week already, leaving the ground saturated. Flooding will become a concern as additional heavy rain will fall as the storm system tracks through.
Cities that will have a lesser severe thunderstorm threat but a higher flooding threat include Atlanta, Augusta and Macon, Georgia; Columbia, South Carolina, and even as far north as Wilmington, North Carolina.
Portions of central and South Florida largely missed out on heavy rain and thunderstorm activity Thursday will still feel the effects of this disturbance as it tracks eastward. A westerly breeze will allowed temperatures to climb well-above average.
As of 2 p.m. EST, record highs for the date were already set in Orland, Daytona Beach and West Palm Beach, Florida. More records may fall into the early evening hours.
For those attending area spring training games or for others possibly visiting for spring break, plenty of non-alcoholic fluids are recommended to avoid dehydration and any other heat-related illnesses.
Cities from Miami to Orlando may experience temperatures topping out in the lower 90s F.
As the storm system slides off the Atlantic coast Thursday evening, rain will come to an end across the Southeast. In the wake of the system, much cooler and drier air will filter into the region.
An expansive area of high pressure will likely keep much of the region dry through the weekend.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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News / Severe Weather
Severe thunderstorms, flood threat targets the Southeast
By Brandon Buckingham, AccuWeather Meteorologist
Published Mar 5, 2020 12:49 PM EDT
A powerful thunderstorm drenched Laurel, Mississippi, in the early hours of March 4 with hail and rain, while lightning flashed overhead.
The same storm system that has plagued portions of the South in recent days will continue to inundate the Southeast into Thursday evening before coming to an end across the region.
After a brief lull in the severe weather Wednesday night, yet another round of thunderstorms has erupted in heat and humidity across the part of the region.
The storm system has been a slow mover across the southern tier of the United States so far earlier this week, but the system's eastward progression began to pick up on Thursday. The center of the disturbance is expected to track through the panhandle of Florida and into southern Georgia into midday before exiting off the Atlantic coast by late Thursday evening.
Along this path will likely be a focal point of where thunderstorms can bring severe weather.
Damaging wind gusts, hail, flash flooding and even a few isolated tornadoes will be possible once again as the disturbance slides eastward.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
Cities that will need to remain on alert for the threat of rapidly deteriorating conditions include Tallahassee, Gainesville and Jacksonville, Florida; and also Valdosta and Savannah, Georgia.
This radar loop was captured during Thursday afternoon, March 5, 2020. (AccuWeather)
Farther north, cooler air and less instability will result in moderate to heavy rain at times across much of the Southeast through the day. A few rumbles of thunder may accompany this rainfall but overall, severe weather is not expected in northern Georgia and into the Carolinas.
Many locales across Alabama, Georgia and portions of South Carolina have picked up between 1 to 3 inches of rainfall this week already, leaving the ground saturated. Flooding will become a concern as additional heavy rain will fall as the storm system tracks through.
Cities that will have a lesser severe thunderstorm threat but a higher flooding threat include Atlanta, Augusta and Macon, Georgia; Columbia, South Carolina, and even as far north as Wilmington, North Carolina.
Portions of central and South Florida largely missed out on heavy rain and thunderstorm activity Thursday will still feel the effects of this disturbance as it tracks eastward. A westerly breeze will allowed temperatures to climb well-above average.
As of 2 p.m. EST, record highs for the date were already set in Orland, Daytona Beach and West Palm Beach, Florida. More records may fall into the early evening hours.
For those attending area spring training games or for others possibly visiting for spring break, plenty of non-alcoholic fluids are recommended to avoid dehydration and any other heat-related illnesses.
Cities from Miami to Orlando may experience temperatures topping out in the lower 90s F.
As the storm system slides off the Atlantic coast Thursday evening, rain will come to an end across the Southeast. In the wake of the system, much cooler and drier air will filter into the region.
An expansive area of high pressure will likely keep much of the region dry through the weekend.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo