Thursday and Friday Forecast to be Rocky Weather Days

Posted: March 22, 2023 3:00 pm

It is setting up to be a stormy week for a large portion of the central and southern U.S. in the coming days. The same weather maker that has been inundating California with heavy rain and snow is on its way over the Rockies and into the nation’s midsection. Here is what you need to know if you live in one of the nearly 20 states in the impact zone of this storm system.

Number of Severe Impacts Possible With Storm System

This line of storms and precipitation will impact an area stretching from the southern Plains, up into the Ohio Valley, and across to the Southeast starting on Thursday and lasting through Friday. The system will move to the east, ushering in significant amounts of precipitation and strong winds.

The heaviest of the rain will fall in an area from Texas to Ohio. Over 4 inches of rain in just 48 hours is a possibility, creating the risk of small stream flooding and ponding on low-lying roadways. Motorists should exercise caution when heading out.

A narrow zone from the northwestern corner of Arkansas and into southwestern Ohio could see rainfall amounts of up to 8 inches. This is a part of the country that has already seen massive amounts of rain since the beginning of March.

What is Fueling These Early Spring Storms?

In addition to the leftover energy from the West Coast storm, this system will also take on the moisture-rich air coming up from the Gulf of Mexico to provide the fuel for the heavy rain. This warm and humid air will also bring the mercury up 10 to 20 degrees higher than the historical average for the end of March. These unseasonably warm temperatures will also support the development of severe weather.

You can expect the first thunderstorms to ignite late Thursday in the southern Plains. Cities that may see these storms include Dallas, Austin, Abilene, and Oklahoma City. Portions of interstates 20, 30, and 35 may be impacted by heavy rain, strong winds, and the chance of isolated tornadic activity.

The chance of severe weather will continue through the end of the work week, expanding into the Southeast. This will put a number of large metropolitan areas in the bullseye for potentially dangerous storms, including Houston, New Orleans, Nashville, and Atlanta.

In addition to the torrential downpours, the storm cells will also likely produce dangerous straight-line wind gusts. Winds of up to 75 mph are a possibility.

Air travel may also be impacted as the storms move from Texas and into Georgia. Be sure to check your flight status if you are flying in or through these hubs on Thursday or Friday.

Looking Ahead

The storms may linger through Friday night in the Southeast. Because storms that fire up under the cover of darkness are inherently more dangerous, it is important to set up weather alerts before going to sleep for the night.

The region is forecast to dry out by the weekend. However, another weather threat bringing rain and thunderstorms could be brewing for the South in the early part of next week. Stay tuned for this developing situation so that you are not caught off guard.

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