Heavy Rains in the Deep South, Strong Storms Southern Plains

Photo courtesy of Photos.com.

By Matt Alto, Meteorologist

Mar 22, 2012; 4:23 AM ET

A slow-moving, nearly stationary storm centered over the southern Plains will continue to bring the threat for flooding as well as some strong to severe storms across the Deep South today.
This powerful storm has been responsible for the flooding rains that have drenched locations from Texas to the lower Mississippi Valley since early this week.
In addition to the deluges, severe storms producing tornadoes, hail, damaging winds and blinding downpours have impacted Texas, the southern Plains and the lower Mississippi Valley so far this week.
Heavy Rains for Deep South, Tennessee Valley
As moisture continues to be transported northward across the southern Mississippi Valley today, periods of heavy rain will fall from Mississippi and Alabama northward to portions of the Tennessee and Ohio River valleys.
Rainfall across these regions will add up throughout the course of the day with many locations receiving between 1 to 2 inches of rain. Locally higher amounts will be possible, especially across eastern Mississippi and western Alabama where the heaviest rain will fall today.

 

Heavy rainfall will continue today across the Deep South. Localized flash flooding will be possible in some places.
Although this system will bring beneficial rain to many of these areas, some may have to pay a price in the form of flash flooding.
While the threat for widespread flooding will not be as high as recent days, minor flooding problems in flood prone and poor drainage areas can be expected.
All the rain will also cause some rises on rivers, creeks and streams across the region.
Poor driving conditions can be expected as the rain falls in sheets. Visibilities will be significantly reduced, slowing travel. Roadways will may also become flooded in spots, bringing the threat for hydroplaning. Never drive through flood water and remember the popular saying, "Turn around, don't drown!"
Motorists driving on Interstates 10, 20, 22, 55, 59, and 65 across the Deep South will have to deal with poor driving conditions. Farther north, those traveling between Memphis and Nashville on Interstate 40 will experience some potentially blinding rainfall as well.
By Friday the threat for heavy rain will shift eastward into Alabama and Georgia before sliding towards the Southeast coast to start the weekend with less rainfall.
Strong Storms A Possibility Too
In addition to the heavy rain, there will be the risk for locally damaging thunderstorms across portions of the southern Plains as well as the Deep South. However, the risk will be more marginal than previous days.
Underneath a pocket of cold air aloft, a few strong to severe thunderstorms will develop across western Oklahoma, western Arkansas during the day, affecting cities like Tulsa and Fort Smith.

These storms will have the potential of bringing gusty and potentially damaging winds as well as some hail. Relatively brief and weak tornadoes cannot be ruled out completely.
These storms will slowly track to the east this later evening and tonight as the slow-moving storms begins to make some progress to the north and east.
These storms will target Little Rock and Springfield as they make their eastward march.
Across the Deep South, the threat for widespread strong to severe storms and tornadoes will be less likely than the past few days.
However, a few strong storms will still be capable of producing gusty winds, small hail and even a tornado.

The threat for severe storms will be renewed on Friday as strong storms move into the Ohio Valley, western Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia.

Heavy Rains in the Deep South, Strong Storms Southern Plains