Gulf Coast in Line to See More Moisture in the Coming Days

Posted: November 13, 2023 9:35 am

There will be little rest for the water-logged Gulf Coast as a new storm is forecast to develop soon after the current weather maker departs the region. Read on for what you need to know about this wet forecast.

Gulf Coast in Crosshairs of Multiple Rain Events

Meteorologists are predicting that the upcoming storm system will pull moisture up from a tropical feature developing to the south. This system will then unload heavy rain to an area stretching from Texas to Georgia by the beginning of next week.

The upcoming moisture will be a continuation of the weather that has been responsible for rain of the magnitude of 1 – 2 inches across portions of eastern Texas and into Arkansas to end the week. This moisture will move to the east in the coming hours, eventually running out of steam when it clashes with a mass of dry air anchored over the southeastern U.S.

A series of weak disturbances riding the cold front will create light rain throughout the weekend for the Gulf Coast and into the Carolinas through Sunday. While rainfall amounts will remain generally low this weekend, some isolated pockets of rain of up to a half of an inch may be possible in Mississippi and Georgia.

As this weak system is exiting the Gulf Coast, a bigger weather event will begin to take root on Sunday and Monday. The same southwest dip in the jet stream that triggered Santa Ana winds in Southern California to end the work week will move to the east and work to lay the groundwork for a new storm to take shape in southern Texas.

This storm will come to life near the Gulf Coast by the end of the weekend, bringing in tropical moisture as it grows. The system is forecast to move to the northeast, dumping widespread rainfall amounts of 2 – 4 inches from South Texas and into Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle. Isolated pockets could pick up 4 – 8 inches of rain.

Rain of this degree will almost inevitably create travel delays and other disruptions to outdoor activities. You will want to keep an eye on the timing and intensity of this storm in your local area as the forecast becomes more precise.

Precipitation Will Help to Mitigate Impacts of Drought

Despite the possibility of severe disruptions to life for the Gulf Coast, the influx of precipitation will help to alleviate the ongoing drought in the region. According to Thursday’s report from the U.S. Drought Monitor, many parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and the northeastern corner of Texas are under the designation of an exceptional drought. This is the worst level assigned by the monitoring agency.

One of the most significant impacts of the ongoing drought is the presence of multiple wildfires in the region. The smoke being produced by these fires has also paired with fog to lead to a handful of deadly vehicular accidents on Louisiana highways recently.

Ongoing drought conditions are also presenting issues for portions of the southern Appalachians and into the Piedmont. Record low water levels in the Mississippi River could also use the moisture generated from this upcoming storm. The lower portions of the Mississippi have seen water levels drop so low that the salt water from the Gulf of Mexico has been able to make its way into the river and negatively impact the water supply.

Although sporadic rain showers over the last several weeks have contributed to a bit of a rise in water levels in the Mississippi Delta region, climatologists predict that the levels will likely fall again during the dry winter months. The early week storm will also raise the chance of beneficial rain across the Yazoo and Big Black rivers in Mississippi. These tributaries will send water into the lower portions of the Mississippi River, helping to slow down the intrusion of saltwater in and around New Orleans.

However, the rain may also increase the risk of flash flooding in some urban and low-lying areas of the Bayou. This threat of flooding will be higher in communities that also recorded heavy rain over the last few days.

Travelers using interstates 10 and 20 along the Gulf Coast will want to stay abreast of the developing weather system. The primary impact zone will include major metropolitan areas such as Houston and New Orleans. Be sure to leave yourself plenty of time when taking to the roads during the inclement weather as ponding on roadways and flash flooding events are a good possibility.

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