Too much rain in too little time could lead to weekend flood threat in Plains, Heartland
Most of the rain is expected to steer clear from disaster areas in Kentucky
Rain returns to Kentucky on Sunday
After the catastrophic flooding in Missouri and Southeast Kentucky, the threat for flooding will continue through the weekend from Missouri to the Mid-Atlantic.
Meteorologists continue to track a slow-moving front draped across a large part of the country’s midsection that they say has the potential to produce flash flooding, similar to what eastern Missouri and Kentucky experienced during the past workweek.
Forecast models indicate areas from eastern Colorado through Arkansas and into the Tennessee Valley could pick on several inches of rain through Sunday.
Most areas will see around an inch of rain, but where the flood threat is the greatest, some communities might see upwards of half a foot.
Meteorologists say the rain is desperately needed due to an ongoing drought, but too much of it in too little time could lead to runoff and flash flooding.
Cities that could see heavy rain include: Amarillo, Texas; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Joplin, Missouri; Springfield, Missouri; Fort Smith, Arkansas; and Little Rock, Arkansas.
Several of these cities have seen little rainfall over the summer, so drought relief is welcome news.
HISTORIC KENTUCKY FLOODING: CHILDREN AMONG NEARLY 20 DEAD AS OFFICIALS FEAR RISING DEATH TOLL
Because the front has nudged southward, disaster zones in Kentucky that are recovering from devastating flooding will miss out on the heaviest precipitation.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has asked for federal assistance and compared sights of the most recent disaster to Mayfield’s EF-4 tornado in December 2021.
Gov. Beshear: Devastating flooding has resulted in nearly 20 deaths
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear provides an update that children are among the nearly 20 dead in catastrophic flooding.
The increase in cloud cover and rain across the heartland means residents will get some relief from the heat.
Temperatures are expected to tumble as much as 20 degrees and could be the coolest weather the region has seen in weeks.
HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER ON TV
By Sunday evening, the front is expected to work northward, putting areas of the Appalachians and the mid-Atlantic under the threat for showers and thunderstorms to start the workweek.
Rain totals are not expected to be as significant as what the region saw during few days, but meteorologists say any additional rain could aggravate already swollen creeks and streams.
The FOX Weather app is a great resource that can be used to alert you of any watches or warnings issued for your area. The free FOX Weather livestream is also available 24/7 on the website and app and on your favorite streaming platform. The FOX Weather Update podcast also provides weather information for the entire country.