A weather system that brought heavy rain to Texas and Louisiana is now moving eastward, leading to a prolonged threat of severe weather and flash floods in the coming days.
The FOX Forecast Center predicts that a large area in the South and mid-Atlantic regions will experience thunderstorms from Thursday afternoon onwards. The storms will move across Middle Tennessee and into northern Alabama, North Georgia, and western North Carolina, areas still recovering from Hurricane Helene.
These storms will follow a stalled cold front over the weekend, bringing 3-5 inches of rain from Florida to the Carolinas, with some areas potentially receiving even higher amounts.
Severe storms threaten Helene-affected areas
Thursday’s severe storms are expected to develop in the afternoon, potentially producing large hail and severe wind gusts in cities like Knoxville, Tennessee, and Asheville, North Carolina. These areas are still rebuilding from the impact of Hurricane Helene last September.
There is also a tornado threat associated with these storms, with NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center issuing a Level 2 risk for severe thunderstorms in the region.
Flash flood threat continues
The recent flooding was particularly severe in parts of southern Louisiana, with some areas receiving over 8 inches of rain in 24 hours.
“The aftermath of the rain can also be impactful, with many streams and rivers in the lower Mississippi Valley at moderate flood stage,” according to the National Weather Service in New Orleans.
Expected rainfall
Computer models predict widespread rainfall of 2-5 inches over the next five days, with some areas possibly receiving up to a foot of rain by next week.
Cities like Tallahassee, Florida; Savannah, Georgia; and Charleston, South Carolina, are at risk of receiving the heaviest precipitation, with some areas potentially reaching double-digit rainfall totals.
While the flash flood threat is elevated, areas along the Eastern Seaboard, experiencing drought conditions, are in need of the rainfall.
Forecasters are most concerned about the potential for strong storms, hail, damaging winds, and the associated flooding rather than just severe weather.
Flash flooding is considered the deadliest weather-related hazard in the U.S., with an average of 127 fatalities reported each year, according to NOAA data.
Just 6 inches of fast-moving water can knock an adult off their feet, and a foot of floodwater can carry away a car, according to the National Weather Service.
