Louisiana to Alabama at risk for severe storms, flash flooding into Thursday evening
Downpours and severe thunderstorms will threaten to slow travel and hinder outdoor plans in the southeastern United States into Friday.
The same system that unleashed severe weather, flooding and over a month’s worth of rainfall in part of the South Central states this week will pick up speed as it marches toward the Atlantic Coast.
The timing of the wet weather may slow travelers getting an early start to their Easter holiday destinations.
On Thursday, a corridor from northern and western Alabama through southern Mississippi and southeastern Louisiana will be at greatest risk of severe thunderstorms, according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Faith Eherts.
Residents of New Orleans; Meridian, Mississippi; and Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, Alabama; will need to be on alert for thunderstorms capable of producing hail, wind and power line damage and even isolated tornadoes.
“Avoid traveling through any severe storms and seek shelter at the first sign of severe weather,” Eherts said.
People with commutes on Interstates 10, 20, 22, 59 and 65 will want to make sure windshield wipers are in good condition and should stay tuned to a local radio station to get severe weather notifications.
“The heavy storms could inundate low-lying and poor drainage areas, potentially making roads impassable,” Eherts said.
Airline passengers could face lengthy delays due to the downpours combined with increased holiday traffic.
While areas farther north will avoid the worst thunderstorms, rainfall may still be heavy enough to trigger localized flooding across Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio on Thursday.
The risk of severe weather will wane as the line of thunderstorms quickly moves toward the southern Appalachians on Thursday evening.
However, a few gusty, locally damaging storms could remain from near Atlanta to Pensacola, Florida. Airline delays may escalate at Atlanta as the downpours and thunderstorms move through during Thursday evening.
"The storm has had a history of producing torrential rainfall over parts of central and northeastern Texas to western Louisiana earlier this week. A swath of 4- to 8- inch rainfall occurred with local amounts to 9.5 inches," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
"Since the forward speed of the storm is increasing and the storm is weakening somewhat, rainfall is forecast to be less intense into Thursday night farther to the east."
By Friday morning, a few showers will extend from eastern North Carolina to northern Florida.
Drier, sunnier weather will sweep from west to east across the region for the first part of Easter weekend.
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