Severe Weather Expected Over Labor Day Weekend

Heavy rainfall across the southwest and southeast is anticipated to continue through the Labor Day weekend. The NOAA weather forecasting center has issued warnings about excessive rain and the potential for localized flooding.

Flash flood alerts were in place on Friday morning across parts of Louisiana and Mississippi.

This prolonged precipitation is linked to a sluggish frontal boundary along with several waves of atmospheric energy that have been producing showers and thunderstorms.

Areas in New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama are bracing for continued heavy rainfall, with some locations possibly receiving over three inches.

A Flash Flood Watch has been issued for around a million residents in the Arcratex area, which lies east of Dallas and southwest of Little Rock, Arkansas.

The WPC has rated the flash flood risk at Level 2 out of 4 for regions stretching from eastern Texas to southern Alabama until Friday afternoon.

The National Weather Service has noted that “excessive runoff can lead to flooding in rivers, streams, and other low-lying areas.”

Forecasters also mentioned that there’s enough atmospheric instability for storms to potentially become severe, producing hail and damaging winds. However, the primary concern remains the likelihood of widespread rainfall over the weekend.

Rainy conditions are expected along many interstate corridors from New Mexico to Florida. These routes will be busy with beachgoers aiming to make the most of the last summer weekend, as well as fans heading to college football games.

Thunderstorms bring the risk of lightning strikes, posing a significant hazard during outdoor activities.

It’s important to note that thunder can be heard up to 12 miles away from a storm, and there have been instances of lightning strikes occurring as far as 25 miles away.

According to NOAA, lightning is responsible for about 23 fatalities annually in the US, injuring many more in the process.

Data from the National Lightning Safety Council indicates that fishing is one of the main outdoor activities linked to lightning fatalities, followed by boating, camping, cycling, and yard work.

Vaisala, a global technology firm, reports that over 240 million lightning strikes have been detected across the country in 2023, affecting approximately one in 1,222,000 people.