Millions in central US face renewed threat of severe storms, flooding starting this weekend
The pattern has flipped with the quiet weather over the past few weeks, replaced by an active one featuring days of heavy rain and severe storms.
Severe weather threatens the Plains this weekend
Saturday through Monday could see strong to severe storms scattered throughout much of the southern Plains with several inches of rain likely and a risk of flash flooding.
The next threat of severe storms and flooding is taking shape this weekend as a new system of storms is set to rattle the Plains and Midwest.
The FOX Forecast Center said days of heavy rain and severe storms have the potential for flash flooding along with strong wind gusts and hail. The threat of tornadoes also cannot be ruled out.
The storm system rolled through the Desert Southwest on Saturday morning, spreading heavy rains across eastern New Mexico into West Texas. Flood Warnings were issued in eastern New Mexico after 1.5-4.75 inches of rain fell, according to the National Weather Service.
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(FOX Weather)
The FOX Forecast Center said that on Sunday, forecasts are reasonably good for severe thunderstorms to develop from northwest Texas into western and central Oklahoma northward into Kansas.
Moderate wind shear and atmospheric energy should support supercell development, with a potential for some large hail and wind damage. The threat should persist into the evening as scattered severe storms move eastward across the southern and central Plains.
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The multi-day run of severe weather will continue right into Monday with thunderstorms expected to develop along a corridor of weak instability from central and north Texas northeastward into the Ozarks. Severe storms could threaten during the afternoon and evening hours, with damaging wind gusts and some large hail as the primary threats.
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Severe weather may persist into Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. However, that forecast remains uncertain at this time, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
Multiple inches of rain to fall across 20-plus states
An emerging flooding rain event is expected to develop over the south-central U.S. by the weekend and early next week. Multiple days of widespread and heavy rain will lead to flooding concerns despite dry conditions over the past month.
An emerging flooding rain event is expected to develop over the south-central U.S. by the weekend and early next week.
(FOX Weather)
Flood Watches and Warnings remain in effect for portions of southeast New Mexico and western Texas through late Saturday morning, while new Flood Watches are in effect for the heart of Oklahoma into slivers of northern Texas and southern Kansas into Monday morning.
(FOX Weather)
The FOX Forecast Center said the flood threat will grow each day, especially if the same areas receive impactful rain for multiple days in a row.
Sunday, in particular, will need to be watched closely across the southern Plains for more widespread flood issues. Rainfall amounts could reach 5-8 inches across parts of central Oklahoma into southeastern Kansas and central Missouri.
The multi-day threat will likely continue into early next week while spreading northeastward over the Midwest in this pattern with the deep moisture locked in place.