Different weather threat will ramp up over the south-central United States starting Memorial Day. Many cities across the South Central states have already recorded more than their average amount of rainfall for the entire month of May.Less than two weeks ago, several locations, including Dallas and New Orleans, received nearly a month’s worth of rain over the course of two to three days.This week, many of the same locations may be able to repeat that feat as another heavy rain event sets up over the region.”The rainy pattern will come courtesy of a system high in the atmosphere that will become cut off from the main flow of the jet stream,” Meteorologist said. “When this happens, unsettled weather can linger for several days in the same general location.”
Rounds of rain are expected to impact portions of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, from Memorial Day through midweek.”While it will not rain constantly this week, rain can fall at almost any time in the region,” said.Rain will be heavy at times through midweek and will likely produce flash flooding issues at times across the area.
“The stalled storm will tap into moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, which will add to the intensity of rainfall rates across the region and increase the potential for flash flooding, Meteorologist said.Over the course of the week, a major concern will be the development of training thunderstorms.”Training thunderstorms are storms that repeat over the same areas and maximize the likelihood of flooding,” said. Locations caught under these repeating downpours will have the greatest opportunity to approach of 6 inches of rainfall. Last week, a separate storm system tracked slowly across the Midwest, down through the Appalachians and finally exited off to the Atlantic Ocean. This storm unleashed periods of very heavy rainfall that led to dam failures in Michigan, among numerous reports of other flash flooding issues. Rainfall along that same scale is likely at times over the South Central states this week, leading to widespread flash flooding issues, especially in low-lying and poor drainage areas.”Motorists are reminded to never attempt to drive through floodwaters, as the water is likely deeper than it appears and the roadway underneath could be compromised,” said.
Although many areas will end the week completely drenched, some parched locations along the Gulf of Mexico will likely receive beneficial rain and be able to quench some drought concerns.According to the United States Drought Monitor, areas in Texas, along the Gulf Coast from Brownsville to Rockport are facing moderate to severe drought conditions, as are portions of the Louisiana coast.
From Jan. 1 to May 23, Brownsville, Texas, had only recorded 2.63 inches of rainfall, just 37% of their typical year-to-date precipitation. This week’s heavy rain event will likely be a positive step toward helping to make up that deficit.Another area of the country expected to encounter drenching rainfall early this week is the Florida Peninsula. Tropical moisture will envelop the state starting Sunday and provide plenty of fuel for heavy rain and some thunderstorms.
Rain will begin for South Florida and the Bahamas on Sunday, but become heavier and push north Monday into Tuesday as a low pressure system develops just off the west coast of South Florida.Urban flooding and localized flash flooding will be the greatest impacts with this system. Across Florida, beachgoers and those who enjoy grilling outside on Memorial Day will have their plans altered as a result of this system.meteorologists also have to monitor the area closely this week as this storm system has the potential to behave in a similar manner to the storm that eventually developed into Tropical Storm Arthur earlier this month.
reference – AccuWeather