Two Primary Concentrations of Rain for the Southeast and Gulf Coast
Alexis Thornton
3 months agoThe tropical moisture continues to flow up into the Southeast, bringing a steady parade of rain showers and thunderstorms. What parts of the region should expect the most rain and when will it hit? Here are all the details that you need to know as you plan your outdoor activities this week.
Tropical Moisture Inundating Parts of Southeast and Gulf Coast
The week is not going to be a total washout for the Southeast. Residents will be able to count on periodic times of sunshine and dry conditions, however, the surges of precipitation will hamper some outdoor plans through the weekend. The moisture is coming up from the Gulf of Mexico, impacting the coastal areas of Texas and Louisiana and up into the Carolinas to the highest degree. This funnel of moisture will linger through the rest of the work week and into Saturday before finally starting to clear out on Sunday.
Forecasters are cautioning that the persistent stream of precipitation will also raise the risk of flash flooding for this zone. The area of coastline from Texas and into western Louisiana is forecast to pick up widespread rainfall amounts of 1 to 4 inches. The hardest hit areas will see rainfall of 4 to 8 inches over the course of the next several days.
The heavy rain is forecast to fall in the same area that was hit hard by Hurricane Beryl. The overly saturated grounds will mean that the rain will be more likely to run off quickly and cause flooding concerns. In addition, some of the storm drains have been clogged by debris left in Beryl's aftermath, contributing another risk factor for flash flooding.
Rain is expected to fall quickly at times, triggering urban flooding and issues on the roads. Texas cities such as Corpus Christi, Houston, and Port Arthur should all be prepared for this possibility. It is important to never try to cross a flooded roadway as the water could quickly overwhelm your vehicle. Water is also often deeper than it appears.
Looking at Houston specifically, the metro area is forecast to see about a half of an inch of rain on Wednesday during the day with another inch tacked on overnight. Thursday's forecast is calling for yet another inch of rain along with the chance of thunderstorm activity. Friday will bring more rain showers with thunderstorms roaming the area on Saturday. High temperatures will hover in the mid 80s during this time period with overnight lows falling to about 75 degrees.
While New Orleans will be in the crosshairs for rain and stormy conditions throughout the week, Friday is shaping up to be the soggiest day. The Crescent City is forecast to bring the end of the work week to a close with rainfall amounts of about a quarter of an inch. High humidity levels and temperatures bouncing around in the upper 80s for top readings will make for steamy weather in the bayou.