Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Severe Thunderstorms, Flash Flooding Threaten South and Midwest Wednesday and Thursday (FORECAST)

Quincy Vagell
Published: March 29,2016




 
Severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging wind gusts, large hail and possibly a few tornadoes will return to parts of the Plains, Midwest and South starting Wednesday. In addition, heavy rainfall could trigger some flash flooding, particularly from the lower Mississippi Valley into the Southeast.
It's been an active 2016 for severe weather, so far, and the last thing storm-weary folks in the Lower Mississippi Valley want to see is more severe thunderstorms or flooding rainfall.
A classic severe weather setup may develop later this week.
This latest round of severe storms is on the warm side of Winter Storm Troy, which is bringing snow to the Rockies and Upper Midwest.
A combination of strong jet stream winds, surface low pressure tracking from the Plains into the Great Lakes, and moisture returning north from the Gulf of Mexico will all be ingredients fueling the potential for severe storms. This is a classic springtime setup for severe thunderstorms in the nation's midsection, though the magnitude of the severe weather threat is still somewhat uncertain.
Below is a look at the current expectation for the severe weather threats ahead.

Severe Weather and Flash Flooding Forecast

Through Tuesday
  • Some scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are possible in the Florida peninsula on Tuesday. We also cannot rule out an isolated severe storm in the central High Plains on Tuesday.
Wednesday

Wednesday's Thunderstorm Forecast
  • States Impacted: southeast Nebraska, southern Iowa and northwest Illinois southward to parts of Missouri, eastern Kansas, western and southern Arkansas, eastern and central Oklahoma, Louisiana, and east Texas.
  • Potential Impacts: Damaging wind gusts, large hail and a few tornadoes are possible.
  • Cities: Dallas | Kansas City | Shreveport, Louisiana | Tulsa, Oklahoma
  • As mentioned before, there is some uncertainty with the magnitude of the severe threat. Early morning thunderstorms and cloud cover could limit the instability that is needed to fuel severe storms in some areas. This could limit the areal coverage and number of severe thunderstorms to a smaller area than currently depicted.
  • In addition, multiple clusters of thunderstorms in the Lower Mississippi Valley may pose a risk of flash flooding, falling on ground still saturated (or flooded) from the early-March flood event. The National Weather Service has issued flash flood watches for parts of the region.
(MORE: Historic March Flooding in the South)
Thursday:

Thursday's Thunderstorm Forecast
  • States Impacted: Severe storms and heavy rain continue to move through the South along the tail end of the cold front, from east Texas to Georgia. Some severe weather is possible as far east as the Carolinas. There is a chance that severe storms may develop as far north as the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes, as well.
  • Potential Impacts: Damaging wind gusts, large hail and a few tornadoes.
  • Cities: Atlanta | Cincinnati | Nashville | New Orleans
  • Flash flooding will continue to be a threat, particularly in the South.
Friday:
  • States Impacted: Some severe weather may linger to close out the week from southeast Virginia to the Carolinas, south Georgia and northern Florida.
  • Potential Impacts: Damaging wind gusts and large hail, though the chance of a tornado cannot be ruled out.

Friday's Thunderstorm Forecast
Radar, Watches, Warnings

Current Radar with Watches and Warnings
Guide to Watches and Warnings

Recap: Sunday's Severe Weather Reports

A possible tornado was reported in western Kentucky on Sunday evening with reports of houses and barns damaged near Crofton and Hopkinsville, as well as power outages. Wind damage was also reported near Camden, Tennessee with numerous trees down, along with sheds blown away and a roof came off a barn.
Hail was also reported on Sunday with hail up to the size of golf balls in French Lick, Indiana, near Bluffton, Indiana and near Greenfield, Tennessee.
Heavy rain and flooding was also observed in portions of the Southeast. The Savannah International Airport recorded their wettest March day on record with 3.81 inches of rain on Sunday.

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(PHOTO/VIDEO GALLERIES: Severe | Storms)

MORE: Early March 2016 Flooding, Severe Weather (PHOTOS)

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