Duo of Storms Moving Through Midwest and Northeast in Coming Days

Posted: December 6, 2022 11:23 am

A duo of storms is taking aim at the central U.S. in the coming days, bringing the chance of widespread flooding as river levels are expected to rise dramatically. Up to six inches of rain could dump across the region before the weather makers wrap up.

Overlapping Storms to Provide Deluge of Moisture

The two storms are predicted to overlap to create the deluge of moisture as the systems meet up with a cold front that has stalled out over the nation’s heartland. The wet weather is extending from the southern Plains, up through the Mississippi and Ohio valleys, and into the Northeast. Despite the wide impact area, the bulk of the moisture will be centered on six states.

The rain is forming thanks to a plume of subtropical moisture that is coming in from the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Mexico. This moisture is making its way all the way into the middle portions of the Mississippi and Tennessee valleys. Moisture that originates in the tropics tends to create heavier rain.

Forecasters are calling for up to 6 inches of rain to fall across Arkansas and Tennessee before moving into Kentucky, southern Missouri, western portions of North Carolina and Virginia, and through the northern tier of Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. This threat of rain in this region will hang around through early Friday.

Flooding a Concern With Rapidly Falling Rain

Also concerning is the forecast for heavy rain to fall over a short period of time, making it more likely that flooding occurs. Motorists should plan for extra commute times throughout the weeks as excess water pools on roadways. Cities that need to be particularly aware of the risk of hydroplaning due to sudden downpours include Nashville, Memphis, and Little Rock.

A general 2 – 3 inches of rain is in the forecast for a large area with localized heavier rains possible. This amount of rain may also send small streams to the point of overflowing.

The bulk of the moisture will fall during the storm that fired up on Monday. This moisture is expected to stick around into Wednesday with the second system overlapping it by several hours. This overlap could trigger small stream flooding beginning Wednesday night and lasting until early Friday.

Moisture Good News for Parched Rivers

While small streams may struggle keeping up with the onslaught of rain over a short time period, larger bodies of water should be able to absorb the heavy precipitation. In fact, the rain could be advantageous for parched waterways such as the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. This is welcome news for a shipping industry that has been disrupted in recent months due to historically low water levels in these rivers.

The greatest amount of rain is predicted for the Tennessee River basin. This river flows into the Ohio River before landing in the Mississippi River. This means that the Mississippi may benefit even if it is not located in the primary impact zone of these two systems.

Experts are predicting that the two storms this week may cause a surge of several feet of water flowing from the lower Ohio River into the lower Mississippi river over the next few weeks. The moisture is also good news for a region that is currently dealing with abnormally dry to severe drought conditions. For instance, parts of Oklahoma are currently under the designation of severe to exceptional drought, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Snow Possible With Second Storm System

While the first system is only expected to produce rain, the second storm may encounter enough cold air to fire up the snow machine across the central Plains, into the Midwest, and through the interior portions of the Northeast. This storm would likely develop on Thursday and Friday. How far south the cold air plunges will dictate where the expected few inches of snow will fall. Stay tuned to your local forecast for more details in the coming days.

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