High flood risk: Heavy rains across Gulf States on Sunday

Although there will still be winter weather happening across the West and the Rockies to start off the weekend, at least the Plains and South will be severe weather-free… just on Saturday, though.

The deep humidity and sharp contrast in temperatures will once again do their thing! Some severe storms will be possible from southeast Texas through southern Louisiana. As of Friday, the chance for severe storms is marginal, 1 out of 5 on the severity scale. There could be some isolated strong storms developing in the morning hours then the strong storms likely turn severe producing hail and damaging winds spreading through Louisiana.

There could be the possibility that severe storms spread over Mississippi and Alabama, depending on how far the front travels south and east. If the front stays south of the coast, the chance for severe storms spreading to the southern portion of Alabama and Mississippi will be null. But if the front stays over land, then severe storms will be likely on Sunday evening into the morning hours of Monday.

The cold front will come to a partial stop around the Gulf Coast as another cold front will be getting close to it, but it will also lose its punch as far as severe storms go. As the pattern rearranges, we will have to wait until Wednesday, possibly even Thursday for the final storm system that will push all the fronts east. This means that from Sunday through Thursday the clouds and rain will be the main headline for the Gulf Coast states. You can check out our WeatherRadar and see how and when the storm will be moving through, here.

During the next 7 days, the forecast calls for over 4 inches of rain extending from southeastern Texas, much of Louisiana, and central and northern Mississippi and Alabama, but these amounts will likely increase as more rain develops in the short term from eastern Texas through the Carolinas through the short term.

Sunday will come with intense downpours which could produce flooding in many spots, especially east of Houston through Baton Rouge and Alexandria, La. Areas across Florida’s Panhandle could also experience flooding as there could be over 3 inches of rain in a short amount of time.

Please, make sure to stay away from flooded roads. Remember, turn around, don’t drown. Floodwaters could be deeper than expected, even across areas frequently traveled through.