South to endure another round of drenching storms
By
Jessica Storm, AccuWeather Meteorologist
Updated Apr 8, 2021 4:26 PM EDT
Even though the phrase "April showers" is used often this time of year, AccuWeather meteorologists say heavy April downpours will continue across the Southeast instead.
This week began with warm, dry weather across much of the region. Easter Sunday was the start of a warming trend across the Southeast as many cities' temperatures bounced above normal that day and the above-normal warmth continued into midweek.
By Tuesday, the high temperature in both Nashville and New Orleans peaked at 81 degrees Fahrenheit. In contrast, Nashville usually sits at a high of 68 in early April. Atlanta also hit 81 on Wednesday, which is over 10 degrees higher than average. Charlotte, North Carolina, climbed to 86 on Wednesday, which is 16 degrees above normal.
These high temperatures are likely to hit a roadblock soon, however.
Cooler air accompanying a storm that produced severe weather over the Mississippi Valley Wednesday night will weigh temperatures down a bit but not enough to put them below average for the latter part of this week.
This image, captures at midday on Thursday, April 8, 2021, shows a band of clouds associated with a weakening cool front over the southeastern United States. (CIRA at Colorado State/GOES-East)
Nashville's temperatures will be no higher than the 70s on Thursday afternoon, before rebounding into the lower 80s on Friday after one storm has moved past the city. Atlanta, however, is not expected to have temperatures above the 70s again for the near future. New Orleans will barely be affected by the cooler trend as its temperatures will likely remain at or above 80 through Friday.
Unfortunately, it appears as though another lengthy reprieve from the rain is not yet in store for the Southeast.
"Another storm will track through on Friday and Saturday," AccuWeather Meteorologist Maura Kelly said.
This second storm will not only be reminiscent of the first, but it is also expected to bring an even heavier deluge to the Southeast as well as severe thunderstorms. Severe thunderstorms can bring torrential downpours and damaging wind gusts to the Southeast.
"By Saturday, rainfall totals can reach as high 4-6 inches somewhere along the central Gulf Coast. Exactly where will depend on where the center of the second storm tracks," Kelly said.
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Such intense rainfall can cause flash flooding problems with the already high water levels in the region.
Large sections of the Mississippi River from Tennessee to Louisiana continue to be under flood warnings as a result of a large amount of precipitation the South received last month, according to Accuweather Meteorologist Mary Gilbert.
"As downpours drench the area to end the week, many gauges along the Mississippi River will likely remain in at least minor flood stage, and waters will be slow to recede," Gilbert said.
Last month, Bristol, Tennessee, reported twice its normal precipitation amount for March, at almost 7 inches. At the end of the month, NASCAR had to postpone multiple races due to severe storms and heavy rain.
Nashville received three times its normal precipitation for March, reporting 12.28 inches total, good for the second-highest March total in the city's history. The heavy rainfall caused devastating flooding across the city near the end of the month, which resulted in several deaths and prompted officials to declare a state of emergency.
Fortunately, there is an end in sight for this week's downpours as the second storm is expected to move over the Atlantic Ocean from Sunday night into Monday morning. High pressure will then move into the region, keeping conditions dry for a time and bringing temperatures back to generally around or slightly below normal.
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 / Weather Forecasts
South to endure another round of drenching storms
By Jessica Storm, AccuWeather Meteorologist
Updated Apr 8, 2021 4:26 PM EDT
Even though the phrase "April showers" is used often this time of year, AccuWeather meteorologists say heavy April downpours will continue across the Southeast instead.
This week began with warm, dry weather across much of the region. Easter Sunday was the start of a warming trend across the Southeast as many cities' temperatures bounced above normal that day and the above-normal warmth continued into midweek.
By Tuesday, the high temperature in both Nashville and New Orleans peaked at 81 degrees Fahrenheit. In contrast, Nashville usually sits at a high of 68 in early April. Atlanta also hit 81 on Wednesday, which is over 10 degrees higher than average. Charlotte, North Carolina, climbed to 86 on Wednesday, which is 16 degrees above normal.
These high temperatures are likely to hit a roadblock soon, however.
Cooler air accompanying a storm that produced severe weather over the Mississippi Valley Wednesday night will weigh temperatures down a bit but not enough to put them below average for the latter part of this week.
This image, captures at midday on Thursday, April 8, 2021, shows a band of clouds associated with a weakening cool front over the southeastern United States. (CIRA at Colorado State/GOES-East)
Nashville's temperatures will be no higher than the 70s on Thursday afternoon, before rebounding into the lower 80s on Friday after one storm has moved past the city. Atlanta, however, is not expected to have temperatures above the 70s again for the near future. New Orleans will barely be affected by the cooler trend as its temperatures will likely remain at or above 80 through Friday.
Unfortunately, it appears as though another lengthy reprieve from the rain is not yet in store for the Southeast.
"Another storm will track through on Friday and Saturday," AccuWeather Meteorologist Maura Kelly said.
This second storm will not only be reminiscent of the first, but it is also expected to bring an even heavier deluge to the Southeast as well as severe thunderstorms. Severe thunderstorms can bring torrential downpours and damaging wind gusts to the Southeast.
"By Saturday, rainfall totals can reach as high 4-6 inches somewhere along the central Gulf Coast. Exactly where will depend on where the center of the second storm tracks," Kelly said.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
Such intense rainfall can cause flash flooding problems with the already high water levels in the region.
Large sections of the Mississippi River from Tennessee to Louisiana continue to be under flood warnings as a result of a large amount of precipitation the South received last month, according to Accuweather Meteorologist Mary Gilbert.
"As downpours drench the area to end the week, many gauges along the Mississippi River will likely remain in at least minor flood stage, and waters will be slow to recede," Gilbert said.
Last month, Bristol, Tennessee, reported twice its normal precipitation amount for March, at almost 7 inches. At the end of the month, NASCAR had to postpone multiple races due to severe storms and heavy rain.
Nashville received three times its normal precipitation for March, reporting 12.28 inches total, good for the second-highest March total in the city's history. The heavy rainfall caused devastating flooding across the city near the end of the month, which resulted in several deaths and prompted officials to declare a state of emergency.
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Fortunately, there is an end in sight for this week's downpours as the second storm is expected to move over the Atlantic Ocean from Sunday night into Monday morning. High pressure will then move into the region, keeping conditions dry for a time and bringing temperatures back to generally around or slightly below normal.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier, Spectrum, FuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo