Severe weather is expected to affect the Southern United States from late this week through early next week, with a potential for localized flash flooding. This stormy pattern is largely driven by mesoscale convective systems, which are known to produce heavy rainfall and severe weather, particularly during the summer months.
On Friday and into Friday night, severe storms are anticipated primarily across the Southern Plains, extending into the Tennessee and Ohio valleys. While not every area will experience severe weather, those that do could face damaging winds and heavy rain. The Texas Panhandle and parts of southeast Colorado and southwest Kansas are particularly at risk for tornadoes and large hail.
Flash flooding is a significant concern, with potential heavy rain leading to flooding issues from Oklahoma to the mid-Mississippi valleys and into the northeastern states. As the weekend progresses, scattered thunderstorms will likely develop across a large portion of the South, including areas from North Texas and Oklahoma to Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Throughout this period, the primary threats will include wind damage and lightning, as well as possible flash flooding in localized areas.
On Sunday, severe storms are expected in two main regions: the Southeast coast extending to southeast Virginia, where damaging winds could occur, and the Southern Plains, including northern Texas and Oklahoma down to Arkansas and parts of Missouri. This region faces the risk of widespread destructive wind gusts, large hail, and flash flooding, particularly from late afternoon into the night.
Looking ahead to Monday and Tuesday, more rounds of storms are likely to continue across much of the South, but specific predictions are still developing. Generally, the stormy weather pattern may shift slightly southward, leading to an expectation of at least an inch of rainfall across the impacted areas, with multi-inch totals possible in regions that experience repeated storms or stalled systems.
For those making plans in the coming days, it’s advisable to stay updated via weather resources to ensure safety amid the impending severe weather.