As the magical pattern change takes shape, the forecast is more in focus yet the rain is by no means guaranteed. Wait — let me rephrase that: the rain for most is by no means guaranteed. It will rain in Texas — how much, when and exactly where remains in question.
Historic flooding is expected to continue across the Middle and Lower Mississippi River Valley throughout the week and, in many cases, through the end of the month of May. River levels have crested in many areas along the Ohio River, but this surge of water will continue to spread southward with damaging floods expected to continue to impact many areas of western Tennessee, Arkansas, western Mississippi, and eastern Louisiana.
On the heels of yesterday’s blog post (Wednesday’s, too) about the flooding and the flooding-to-come for the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, comes this: Rain in southern Texas by mid-May. No fooling.
No doubt, there’s a lot going on these days. What with Osama, the stealth copter, the record-breaking tornado outbreak (and now, recovery), as well as gas prices, Trump and the economy, there’s seems little room within the headlines for the epic flooding now occurring along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.
Over the next several days, weather more quiet in nature will take hold over much of the United States as the upper-level flow pattern weakens. However, the story that will continue to make headlines into next week will be the ongoing flood situation across the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys.
A strong low pressure system and cold front will move from eastward across the central and eastern U.S. today and tomorrow bringing a risk of strong-to-severe thunderstorms with locally heavy rainfall, frequent lightning, strong, gusty winds and isolated tornadoes.
Significant snow, severe thunderstorms, even tornadoes are possible across the U.S. today and tomorrow. The next week and a half will include dramatic weather in many areas as cold air from the north collides with warm, humid air in the South.
Another significant winter weather event is under way and will dive south and east across the Rockies, Plains, and portions of the Mississippi River Valley through the middle of the week. This will bring an increased risk of moderate-to-heavy accumulations of snow, some mixed wintry precipitation to the south, and gusty winds associated with the strong low pressure center.
Flurries (northern Metro Houston) and sleet (coastal areas near Galveston) have already been reported this morning. This afternoon though is when the precipitation should begin in earnest with accumulations in some areas nearing five inches of snow by tomorrow morning and other areas accumulating 1/4-inch of ice or perhaps even more.
Rolling blackouts are what we awoke to this morning in Houston. The outdoor thermometer read 26° and the power companies are struggling to keep pace with demand. The house was still warm and it certainly wasn’t the end of the world — this New England Yankee can handle some cold! But my cats seemed to [...]