Spring temps come at a soggy cost

A long-lasting storm system is set to bring a soggy weekend to the Mid-South. The consistent rainfall coming with it will cause isolated flash flooding risks, especially to areas still under drought conditions.

We’re in the middle of a spring preview but it comes at a cost for areas from far-eastern Texas to far-western South Carolina. Ahead of the cold front that will eventually bring the wintry chill back to the U.S., heavy rain is expected to set up beginning Friday but really packing a punch on Saturday and Sunday.

Indeed, many who are expected to get this rainfall across the Mid-South will be experiencing warmer temperatures of at least 5 to 10 degrees above average for this time of February. So those enjoying the warmer 60s and 70s will also want to make sure their umbrellas are handy.

As shown on the WeatherRadar, Mid-South residents from eastern Texas to the Tennessee Valley will wake up Friday morning to scattered rain showers. These will last all through the day and into the night before becoming more widespread. They will move into the Ohio Valley to the Carolinas by Saturday afternoon, lasting through Sunday.

The upper-level stream of moisture providing the energy for the consistent rainfall is coming from a plume out of the Pacific, crossing over the Mexican Plateau and moving into the southern U.S. Assisting the moisture availability is the clockwise turn of the high pressure in the western Atlantic, pushing water-laden Gulf of Mexico air into the Mid-South as well.

We could see training over many areas in the Mid-South which will cause the flash flooding issues mentioned earlier, especially over areas still experiencing extensive drought – we’re looking at you Louisiana through Mississippi, Alabama, and western Tennessee.

Keep a close eye on the WeatherRadar if you have weekend plans and make sure your app alerts are switched on so you receive the latest forecast information right to your fingertips, especially for areas that could experience flooding.