According to AccuWeather, a new cold front is about to collide with the large warm area responsible for increased temperatures earlier this week. This collision could set off another outbreak of storms midweek. More severe weather means more flooding for Southern U.S.
According to AccuWeather, a new cold front is about to collide with the large warm area responsible for increased temperatures earlier this week. This collision could set off another outbreak of storms midweek. More severe weather means more flooding for Southern U.S.
The storms, torrential downpours as well as severe thunderstorms, “will be capable of producing mainly large hail and damaging winds,” said AccuWeather Enterprise Solutions Storm Warning Meteorologist Alex Avalos. “But a tornado or two cannot be ruled out. Storms will initiate ahead of a cold front late Wednesday afternoon across eastern Texas and spread northeastward into the Ozark Mountains and central Mississippi Valley into early Thursday morning.
The cities at the greatest risk for violent storms on late Wednesday afternoon and into Wednesday night include:
- Shreveport, Louisiana
- Springfield, Missouri
- Fayetteville & Little Rock, Arkansas
- Dallas, Texas
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski explained that the key determining factor of the severity of the weather will be if the prime heat of the day occurs at the same time ideal conditions exist skyward. “If the strongest winds aloft wait until after dark to move over the region, then a major outbreak of severe weather could be avoided.”
If not avoided, there will at least be a little break early Thursday morning. However, that break will be short-lived as storms increase in number to the east after the day heats up. According to Alex Avalos, “The potential will exist for a few severe thunderstorms on Thursday across Louisiana, central-southern Mississippi, Alabama and potentially even into the far western Florida Panhandle. Large hail and damaging winds will be the main concerns.”
Northern Mississippi and western Tennessee may even see some large hail-producing thunderstorms.
The areas most likely to see severe weather on Thursday are:
- Jackson, Mississippi
- Birmingham & Mobile, Alabama
- Pensacola, Florida
- New Orleans, Louisiana
The storms predicted for late Wednesday into Thursday are capable of torrential downpours that potentially create more problems for the already flood-battered Mississippi Valley. Alex Avalos said, “With continued flooding problems from heavy rains over the past couple of weeks across the Mississippi Valley, these storms will only act to further exacerbate flooding potential in these areas.”
Motorists should exercise extreme caution, even if the areas manage to avoid further flooding. The heavy rains will greatly reduce visibility and make travelling at highway speeds potentially dangerous.
Lightning Safety Specialist at NOAA, John Jensenius, Jr., reported the first lightning death of 2016. “A 28-year-old woman was struck while sheltering in a personal tent at a blues festival in Larose, Louisiana. She died on Saturday.”
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