AccuWeather meteorologists put southern Plains on alert for flooding rain

Since June 5, Dallas-Love Field Airport has recorded solely 0.20 of an inch of rainfall. All of this rain got here on or after Aug. 10, leaving the town with greater than two months of no measurable rainfall. This minuscule quantity of rainfall is barely 3% of the typical 6.03 inches of rain that the town usually receives throughout that point.

As the brand new week begins, the specter of heavier rain will shift into the south-central United States.

“A southward dip in the jet stream across the central U.S. will help to funnel moisture into parts of Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana,” stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Renee Duff. Unlike in current days and weeks, that moisture will likely be plentiful, and are available from a number of sources.

After pummeling the Southwest with repeated rounds of showers and thunderstorms, moisture from the North American monsoon will drift into the southern Plains. Meanwhile, a tropical system will elevate northward out of the Gulf of Mexico, serving to to permit for even heavier rain.

While the system by no means turned a tropical storm as had as soon as been potential, and impacts in South Texas remained restricted, the flooding points it could carry to Oklahoma and Texas will likely be unchanged because it lifts northward.

The heaviest and most widespread rainfall is predicted to happen by way of Monday alongside the Red River to the Interstate 20 hall, earlier than shifting to the south and east in direction of the I-10 hall Tuesday and Wednesday.

“The rounds of rain, through the middle of the week, are expected to bring widespread amounts of 2-4 inches from northwestern Texas into central Mississippi,” Duff stated.

Areas alongside the Oklahoma-Texas border and into northern Texas are more likely to obtain much more rainfall, on the order of 4-8 inches, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 14 inches potential.

Low-lying and poor drainage areas will possible be the primary to expertise flooding following a heavier downpour. However, the enduring drought throughout the world implies that extra intensive flooding is feasible, as the bottom might will likely be sluggish to soak in any water.

Over 60% of the state of Texas is beneath an excessive or distinctive drought in response to the most recent replace from the U.S. Drought Monitor, whereas over 85% is in at the very least a extreme drought.

The above picture reveals the state of the drought throughout the south-central United States, in response to the U.S. Drought Monitor replace on Aug. 18.

Meanwhile, 90% of Oklahoma is experiencing extreme or worse drought circumstances.

Cities resembling Oklahoma City and San Antonio will likely be on the periphery of probably the most persistent rainfall. Both have additionally had a dry summer season and are experiencing excessive or distinctive drought circumstances. Both cities have had lower than a 3rd of an inch of rainfall thus far in August.

The rainfall that’s anticipated to hit these areas within the coming week, in the long run, will assist to make a dent within the persistent drought. However, the extreme dry floor can have bother absorbing the rain within the brief time period, resulting in extra expansive flooding.

Rapidly rising water may cowl roadways and even wash them out, making routes impassible, specialists say. Drivers touring at excessive speeds also needs to watch out to keep away from hydroplaning on standing water.

“In order to remain secure, residents ought to have a means, such because the AccuWeather App, to obtain the latest watches and warnings of their space,” Duff stated.