US Flash Flood Risk in Southeast
The potential of flash flooding will persist over the Southeast less than a week after Hurricane Nicholas dumped record amounts of rain on the region, according to Weather analysts.
Nicholas not only flooded parts of the Gulf Coast, but high pressure over the Northeast and near Florida has allowed moisture from the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico to flow into the Southeast over the previous three days.
This weather pattern resulted in catastrophic flooding in Alabama on Saturday afternoon, as well as 4 to 6 inches of rain in Middle Tennessee in just 24 hours. Throughout the Southeast, daily heavy downpours are forecast to continue through the middle of this week.
“Showers and thunderstorms, which could be heavy at times over the Southeast, will be spotty over the region in the coming days,” Meteorologist said. “However, anywhere that does see these storms will have a continued flooding risk, which could cause travel delays and localized flooding in the region.”
US Flash Flood Risk and Period
Since September 1, several regions across the South have received more than their fair share of rain, leaving them flooded. Since September 1, New Orleans has received over 7 inches of rain, which is 210 percent of the usual rainfall for this time of year. Another city that has been flooded since September 1 is Mobile, Alabama, which has received 219 percent of its usual rainfall.
With additional rain on the way, several communities in the South will be on high alert for localized flash flooding in the Mississippi River Valley through Tuesday and further east through Wednesday.
“These storms will be soaking at times due to the moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic,” Metrologist noted, “resulting to the persistent hazard of localized flash floods.”
Tropical moisture from both the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico will flow into the Southeast thanks to high pressure in the Northeast and near the Florida Peninsula, halting the regular west-to-east advance of storms. Such powerful areas of high pressure can basically operate as a barrier in the atmosphere, resulting in a stormy pattern that seems to never stop.
Thunderstorms will have enough of fuel to unleash severe downpours thanks to an increase in humidity across the Southeast due to precipitation flowing in from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic.
When heavy rains continue to fall over the same area, weather forecasters warn that flooding in farm fields, which could result in crop damage, as well as ponding on roadways, may occur.
Experts strongly advise against driving through flooded roads since automobiles may stall or be swept away by flood waters, resulting in a potentially dangerous situation. A cold front is predicted to reach in the East by midweek, bringing respite to residents in flooded cities and towns across the South.
“Until a cold front sweeps through the southeast by Wednesday night, leaving cooler and drier air across the region by Thursday,” Metrologist said.
reference – Accuweather
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