Severe thunderstorms, flood risk to linger in southern US into this weekend
The risk of severe thunderstorms and flooding downpours will return to parts of the south-central and southeastern United States during Friday night and Saturday.
The same storm forecast to spread a swath of snow from the Rockies to the mid-Atlantic coast into this weekend will produce heavy rainfall and locally severe thunderstorms on its warm, southern flank.
The severe thunderstorm threat will include parts of the southern Plains and the lower Mississippi Valley into Friday night.
Thunderstorms in this area may bring large hail, strong wind gusts and flash flooding.
Large hail that fell near McKinney, Texas late Friday afternoon. (Photo/Jeff Veal)
One thunderstorm that developed north of Dallas on Friday evening produced hail larger than golf balls with some of the largest hailstones being reported near Celina and McKinney, Texas.
"The greatest risk for a few isolated tornadoes is from southern Arkansas and northern Louisiana to western Mississippi," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Samuhel.
Farther to the northeast, while there may be thunder and lightning, persistent and repeating downpours may cause small stream and urban flooding from northern and central Arkansas to middle Tennessee and northern Alabama into Friday night.
While the rainfall is not likely to have a significant effect on local levels of the Mississippi River, some rises on the tributary rivers may occur with the potential for 1-3 inches of rain from the event.
A lightning strike near Oak Hill, Ohio, on Tuesday evening. (Photo/Russ Smith)
Thunderstorms will tend to organize along a line that marks the leading edge of advancing cold air into this weekend.
While the storms are likely to lose their intensity late Friday night while crossing the southern Appalachians, Piedmont and central Gulf coast areas, they may get new life upon reaching the southern Atlantic and northeastern Gulf coast areas on Saturday afternoon and evening.
On Saturday, part of the southeastern corner of the nation may be at risk for storms generating locally damaging wind gusts and perhaps an isolated tornado.
Any non-flooding rainfall from the storms in the Southeast will be welcomed, as a large part of the region has conditions ranging from abnormally dry to severe drought, according to the United States Drought Monitor.
Downpours may also help to clean the pollen out of the air and off of vehicles in the short term.
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