US Flash Flood Risk With Heavy Rain
This week, a surge of rainfall is forecast in the southern Plains and South Central states as winds direct moisture inland from the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in rainfall amounts for the middle of the country that might cause flash flooding.
“The overall trend in the Plains will remain pretty stagnant, allowing thunderstorms to form over the same area for the remainder of the week,” a Meteorologist said. Blocking from systems to the east is slowing this pattern.
These storms would most likely be pushed eastward by the flow of the atmosphere in a typical weather pattern. Instead, moisture from the Gulf of Mexico will be trapped over the top of the south-central region, allowing showers and thunderstorms to hit most of Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas on multiple occasions this week.
Showers and thunderstorms will also extend further north into the Plains by Wednesday and Thursday.Not only will day-to-day thunderstorms allow for higher rainfall totals, but there is also a possibility of training storms on any given day,” recent climate forecasters stated.
Storms “train” when they go over the same area multiple times in a short period of time, similar to how a train moves over its tracks repeatedly.
“This means that thunderstorms could hit the same locations repeatedly over a specific afternoon and trigger flash flooding,” forecasters noted.
According to the National Weather Service, flash flooding happens within six hours of severe or exceptional rainfall (NWS). Forecasters advise homeowners to make sure they have a mechanism to get weather warnings due to the unexpected nature of this phenomena.
If a flash flood watch or warning has been issued for their area, residents should avoid descending into basements or anywhere underground. Motorists are advised not to drive through flooded highways and to be aware of shifting visibility while thunderstorms are in the area. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, just 6 inches of water in a flash flooding storm can cause cars to lose control or stall (FEMA). One potential benefit of the rain is that it is heading to areas that have been drier than usual this month.
“The majority of the rain will fall in places where drought has re-emerged in recent weeks,” recent climate forecasters said.
Oklahoma City, for example, hasn’t gotten measurable rainfall since September 4, placing the city at only 9 percent of its usual monthly rainfall. Tulsa, Oklahoma, reported only 3% of the average in September. According to the United States Drought Monitor, approximately 40 percent of Oklahoma is in moderate drought.
Omaha, Nebraska, and Wichita, Kansas, have also trailed monthly rainfall norms. Drought-stricken areas are frequently more vulnerable to flooding. When the ground is dry, it has a tough time absorbing heavy rain. This permits water to accumulate on top of the earth, resulting in floods.
Not all parts of the central United States require rain. Some regions of the Gulf Coast region have already received more than their fair share of flooding.
reference – accuweather
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