This weekend, millions in parts of the Southern Plains are facing an escalating risk of flooding.
The FOX Prediction Center is monitoring a storm that’s moving across the country. It’s anticipated to deliver substantial rainfall from the Southwest through the plains and into the Deep South, as part of a broader shift in weather patterns.
The eastern half of the U.S. has seen a rather eventful winter, characterized by repeated storms that resulted in snow and ice during a particularly cold stretch from December through mid-February.
However, cold air is now yielding to record warmth in the central U.S., and the Northeast is finally beginning to thaw, which means the storms this weekend will provide some essential rain.
Interestingly, many areas in the Southern Plains, especially in Arkansas and Georgia, are experiencing drought conditions.
The storm is expected to travel from Baja California into the Southwest and Southern Plains starting Friday, according to the FOX Prediction Center.
This weekend, two to three inches of rain is projected to fall over a wide stretch from eastern Oklahoma to Georgia, with scattered thunderstorms possible in the South.
The NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center has indicated a low-level flash flooding threat for regions in Oklahoma and north-central Texas as of Friday.
By Saturday, this risk was heightened, reaching Level 2 out of 4, affecting parts of northeast Texas, eastern Oklahoma, and central Arkansas, including Little Rock.
Some areas could see up to 5 inches of rain over the weekend.
Most weather models suggest that after this, the storm system will remain south, crossing the Gulf Coast and ultimately moving offshore near the southeastern coast.
In a less likely scenario predicted by computer models, there’s a possibility a significant storm system could veer off the coast and push north toward the mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
Looking ahead to early next week, we expect a notable change. A stall in the jet stream over the west is predicted, which could enable high pressure to build in the east, reversing the prevailing weather patterns of the past month.
This stall could lead to more storm formation in the West, which may gain intensity as they move through the central U.S. and head eastward.
However, there’s a chance that if the high pressure becomes overly strong, the storm might head toward Canada instead.
Conversely, if the high pressure weakens or shifts southward, a potentially impactful storm could traverse the Midwest and reach the Northeast.
This scenario not only raises the likelihood of snow in northern areas but also heightens the risk of severe weather in the south.
An established high pressure in the southeast could encourage warmer and unstable air, which may result in stronger thunderstorms.
