Waterlogged south-central US to endure additional drenching storms
By
Jessica Storm, AccuWeather Meteorologist
Updated Apr 30, 2021 6:38 AM EST
Heavy rainfall and flash flooding inundated different parts of the southern U.S. including Arkansas and Texas on April 28. Motorists plow through flooded streets as roads turn into rivers.
A parade of storms will keep the risk of flooding high across the flood-weary south-central United States through the weekend and into early next week.
Drenching severe thunderstorms roved the Plains Tuesday and Wednesday, dropping up to 8 inches across parts of Colorado and almost 7 inches in Oklahoma.
Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, which is located about 58 miles south of Oklahoma City, had intense flash flooding in the streets, with reports of stranded cars and water in buildings Tuesday night.
Storms continued into Wednesday night, producing heavy rainfall and hail. Baseball-sized hail was reported at the Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas, as well as in Eagle Mountain, Saginaw, Texas.
Flooding has been a major concern over portions of Arkansas and Missouri into midweek. This problem lingered into Thursday night due to ongoing downpours on saturated ground even as the overall area of rain diminishes and moves farther to the South.
Warm and humid air will be pulled northwest from the Gulf of Mexico and meet up with cooler and drier air arriving from the Rockies, according to AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Forecaster Paul Pastelok.
This radar image, taken at mid-afternoon on Thursday, April 29, 2021, shows significantly less thunderstorm activity when compared to the middle of the week over the south-central United States. However, downpours continued to affect part of the region through Thursday night. (AccuWeather/NOAA)
With over 4 inches of rain so far this month, St. Louis is at 115% of its normal rainfall amount so far in April, putting it at risk for flooding.
After fierce floods in the Nashville area earlier this year, the city is over 140% of normal rainfall since the start of 2021. Thankfully, the Music City has been running below average this month.
AccuWeather forecasters are urging drivers to use caution when traveling due to limited visibility and flooded roadways.
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With cities like Louisville, Kentucky, at over 125% of the average rainfall this year, flash flood watches stretched from southern Indiana to Missouri on Thursday.
"Although Louisville saw heavy rainfall Thursday and was under a flash flood watch through Thursday evening, the rain will be long gone by Saturday evening for the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby with sunshine, low humidity and temps in the low 70s expected for the race," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said.
South Texas, though, could be in the thick of it Friday through Saturday night. Cities like Brownsville, Harlingen and Laredo, Texas, are expected to receive heavy rainfall to start the weekend.
"The southern branch of the storm in the East will hold back and slowly move across southeastern Texas and the Gulf Coast with heavy showers and thunderstorms and the chance for more flooding," Pastelok said.
About 65% of Texas is under moderate drought, according to the United States Drought Monitor. Areas of western and southern Texas have been the hardest hit, with large areas of extreme and even exceptional drought being reported.
Harlingen, Texas, located near the Mexico border, has received less than a half an inch of rain so far this month, putting it at a measly 12% of April average, and 25% for the year.
"There could be significant drought easement, but it could swing the other way too," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Houk.
Some of the areas that experienced heavy rainfall and flooding on Thursday will be in the line of fire for this weekend's storm.
"This storm will hit an area that has received over a foot of rain in April," said Pastelok.
April will finish with monthly rainfall totals of over 1 foot across parts of Louisiana and Mississippi.
This is not the end of wet weather in these areas, however.
May will start will a chance for more significant rain as a slow-moving storm moves through this region with showers and drenching thunderstorms leading to potential flooding.
This storm is expected to move out of the Rockies, meaning severe weather is possible in the eastern Plains and Mississippi Valley late Tuesday, and the Ohio and Tennessee valleys Wednesday, according to Pastelok. Rain and thunderstorms with some severe weather are possible next Thursday in the East.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier, Spectrum, FuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios.
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News / Severe Weather
Waterlogged south-central US to endure additional drenching storms
By Jessica Storm, AccuWeather Meteorologist
Updated Apr 30, 2021 6:38 AM EST
Heavy rainfall and flash flooding inundated different parts of the southern U.S. including Arkansas and Texas on April 28. Motorists plow through flooded streets as roads turn into rivers.
A parade of storms will keep the risk of flooding high across the flood-weary south-central United States through the weekend and into early next week.
Drenching severe thunderstorms roved the Plains Tuesday and Wednesday, dropping up to 8 inches across parts of Colorado and almost 7 inches in Oklahoma.
Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, which is located about 58 miles south of Oklahoma City, had intense flash flooding in the streets, with reports of stranded cars and water in buildings Tuesday night.
Storms continued into Wednesday night, producing heavy rainfall and hail. Baseball-sized hail was reported at the Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas, as well as in Eagle Mountain, Saginaw, Texas.
Flooding has been a major concern over portions of Arkansas and Missouri into midweek. This problem lingered into Thursday night due to ongoing downpours on saturated ground even as the overall area of rain diminishes and moves farther to the South.
Warm and humid air will be pulled northwest from the Gulf of Mexico and meet up with cooler and drier air arriving from the Rockies, according to AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Forecaster Paul Pastelok.
This radar image, taken at mid-afternoon on Thursday, April 29, 2021, shows significantly less thunderstorm activity when compared to the middle of the week over the south-central United States. However, downpours continued to affect part of the region through Thursday night. (AccuWeather/NOAA)
With over 4 inches of rain so far this month, St. Louis is at 115% of its normal rainfall amount so far in April, putting it at risk for flooding.
After fierce floods in the Nashville area earlier this year, the city is over 140% of normal rainfall since the start of 2021. Thankfully, the Music City has been running below average this month.
AccuWeather forecasters are urging drivers to use caution when traveling due to limited visibility and flooded roadways.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
With cities like Louisville, Kentucky, at over 125% of the average rainfall this year, flash flood watches stretched from southern Indiana to Missouri on Thursday.
"Although Louisville saw heavy rainfall Thursday and was under a flash flood watch through Thursday evening, the rain will be long gone by Saturday evening for the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby with sunshine, low humidity and temps in the low 70s expected for the race," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said.
South Texas, though, could be in the thick of it Friday through Saturday night. Cities like Brownsville, Harlingen and Laredo, Texas, are expected to receive heavy rainfall to start the weekend.
"The southern branch of the storm in the East will hold back and slowly move across southeastern Texas and the Gulf Coast with heavy showers and thunderstorms and the chance for more flooding," Pastelok said.
About 65% of Texas is under moderate drought, according to the United States Drought Monitor. Areas of western and southern Texas have been the hardest hit, with large areas of extreme and even exceptional drought being reported.
Harlingen, Texas, located near the Mexico border, has received less than a half an inch of rain so far this month, putting it at a measly 12% of April average, and 25% for the year.
"There could be significant drought easement, but it could swing the other way too," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Houk.
Some of the areas that experienced heavy rainfall and flooding on Thursday will be in the line of fire for this weekend's storm.
"This storm will hit an area that has received over a foot of rain in April," said Pastelok.
April will finish with monthly rainfall totals of over 1 foot across parts of Louisiana and Mississippi.
This is not the end of wet weather in these areas, however.
May will start will a chance for more significant rain as a slow-moving storm moves through this region with showers and drenching thunderstorms leading to potential flooding.
Related:
This storm is expected to move out of the Rockies, meaning severe weather is possible in the eastern Plains and Mississippi Valley late Tuesday, and the Ohio and Tennessee valleys Wednesday, according to Pastelok. Rain and thunderstorms with some severe weather are possible next Thursday in the East.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier, Spectrum, FuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios.
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