Waterlogged Eastern Plains, Mid-South Brace For Fresh Downpours | WeatherBug
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Waterlogged Eastern Plains, Mid-South Brace For Fresh Downpours

May 26, 2020
By WeatherBug Meteorologists, Chad Merrill and Alyssa Robinette
The holiday weekend was anything but weather-friendly to the nation’s midsection and Mother Nature continues to have a few tricks up her sleeves through most of this week.

A low pressure system will slowly drift north through the Mississippi Valley today and Wednesday, keeping a cold front stalled from southern Texas and Lower Mississippi Valley into the Upper Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes. This front will funnel waves of moisture northward, resulting in a parade of rain and thunderstorms.

The problem is several days of heavy rain has saturated the soil and any additional rainfall will likely contribute to flash flooding. Urban centers and roadways near small creeks and streams are most vulnerable to flash flooding. Remember, when you approach a flooded roadway, Turn Around, Don’t Drown.” Water is usually deeper than what it appears.

Flash Flood Watches span northern Missouri into exteme southeastern Iowa, Arkansas and extreme northeastern Texas. Includes Texarkana, Texas, Mena, Little Rock and Batesville, Ark., Bethany and Rockport, Mo. 

Another issue will come in the form of severe weather, with the best chance occurring in the Upper Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes this afternoon. This includes Des Moines, Iowa, and La Crosse, Wis., but anyone in Iowa, southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin will need to pay close attention to rapidly changing weather conditions. Any thunderstorms that develop could produce large hail and damaging winds. An isolated, short-lived tornado or two cannot be ruled.

A Tornado Watch has been issued for central Iowa, which includes Des Moines, Fort Dodge and Mason City. 

Even more severe weather will be on the menu on Wednesday, located in the southern Plains this time.

A second cold front will cross the central U.S. Thursday and Friday. While rounds of showers and thunderstorms will continue to be likely on Thursday, drier weather is finally set to move in by Friday.

Make sure you know the difference between a watch and warning should they be issued. A watch means that severe weather conditions are possible, and you should be aware of rapidly changing skies. A warning means that severe weather is imminent, and you should take cover immediately. Remember, “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!”