Beneficial Rains, Potent Storms In Store For The South And East

Multiple inches of rain will drench the Deep South while lighter amounts give the eastern U.S. some drought relief.
 
 A pair of low pressure systems will move along a stalled cold front from the Eastern Seaboard into the south-central U.S. during the second half of the work week. These systems will bring areas of moderate to heavy rain to much of the Deep South. Most days will feature a region of 1 to 2 inches of rain, with locally higher amounts possible.

Through the four-day stretch, total rainfall of 1 to 4 inches will occur from central Texas to the central Gulf states, Georgia, and the central and eastern Carolinas. Locally higher amounts of 4 to 6 inches could also occur between today and Saturday. Be weather-aware in low-lying and urban areas, and remember, “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!”
 
 Areas of flooding are a concern as these systems move across the South, but with much of the region under severe to extreme drought, it will be a welcome rain for many as it could put a notable dent into the long-term drought conditions.

As if heavy downpours wasn’t enough, there could be strong to severe thunderstorms in the south-central U.S. A Slight Risk is in effect from central Texas and much of Louisiana into southern Mississippi and southwestern Alabama. The main threats would be damaging wind gusts exceeding 60 mph and large hail up to the size of a baseball. Cities included in this Slight Risk include Waco, San Antonio, and Lufkin, Texas, Alexandria, La., and Jackson, Miss.
 
The first storm system will also work its way up through the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast today into Thursday, with most areas receiving moderate rainfall. Widespread rainfall of 0.5 to 1.5 inches is likely from the central Appalachians to northern New England, with rain amounts around 0.5 inch or less in the coastal Mid-Atlantic and southern New England.
 
 While not as beneficial as the activity across the South, any rain is appreciated in the Mid-Atlantic and New England, where many areas are experiencing moderate to severe drought.