Pre-Christmas severe storm, flood threat to target southern US

A series of storms will move across the eastern half of the United States into Christmas Eve and trigger the potential for severe storms and flooding rainfall across the Southern states.

A series of storms will move across the eastern half of the United States into Christmas Eve and trigger the potential for severe storms and flooding rainfall across the Southern states.

Travelers from Texas to the Carolinas and into the lower Great Lakes need to remain aware of rapidly changing weather conditions while heading to their holiday destinations.

Severe thunderstorms to target areas from Gulf Coast to Ohio Valley

Locations from the Gulf Coast to the lower Great Lakes need to be on alert for potentially damaging thunderstorms Tuesday night into Wednesday night.

Following drenching and locally gusty thunderstorms along the southern Atlantic Seaboard on Tuesday, a more widespread area of severe thunderstorms will likely develop late on Tuesday and continue into Wednesday night.

According to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski, “The risk of gusty to locally damaging thunderstorms will develop from northeastern Texas and southeastern Oklahoma to western parts of Louisiana and Arkansas during Tuesday night.”

Main threats with these storms include damaging wind gusts and isolated tornadoes.

On Wednesday, an even greater threat for damaging winds and isolated tornadoes will ramp up across portions of northern and central Mississippi, northwestern Alabama, western Tennessee and southwestern Kentucky.

Thunderstorms with locally gusty winds may extend as far north as northern Indiana by late Wednesday.

Some of the storms will occur after dark and will add to the danger, especially from Alabama to Indiana and western Ohio.

Flash flooding threat from the Gulf Coast to the Carolinas

In addition to severe storms, the risk for flooding will be prevalent farther to the east.

Locations from the central Gulf Coast to the western Carolinas are at risk for the heaviest rain that may trigger flash flooding.

“Into Christmas Eve, parts of the Gulf Coast could see 4 to 5 inches of rain with locally higher amounts,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said.

“While this rain will fall over the span of three to four days, flooding will still be a concern given how wet it has been recently,” Pydynowski said.

Rainfall across the rest of the Eastern states will generally range from 0.50 of an inch to 1.00 inches with localized totals of 2 inches into Christmas Eve.

Some of the cities at risk for potential flooding include Tallahassee and Pensacola, Florida; Monroe and Alexandria, Louisiana; Jackson and Biloxi, Mississippi; Mobile and Montgomery, Alabama; Atlanta and Macon, Georgia; Greenville and Spartanburg, South Carolina; Charlotte and Asheville, North Carolina.

“This amount of rain will certainly be enough to cause some flooding issues and create headaches for those traveling to visit friends and family for Christmas,” Pydynowski said.

Those traveling along interstates 10, 20, 55, 59, 65, 75 and 85 will be facing days of heavy rainfall and reduced visibility.

Rain jackets and umbrellas will be needed for those doing any last minute shopping for the Christmas holiday.

Mild air will accompany the rain during the week. Temperatures will range between 10 to 30 degrees above average in most places and will challenge record-high temperatures.

Drivers are urged to reduce speeds during episodes of heavy rain and ponding on roadways to reduce the risk of hydroplaning.

Never drive through a flooded roadway. Less than 10 inches of flowing water can wash vehicles away.

Keep track of the rain moving across your area by using รขโ‚ฌโ€นAccuWeather Minutecastยฎ. Mobile users can use their GPS location.

Active weather pattern to continue into next week

Another threat for flooding and severe thunderstorms may follow next week.

“As a major storm is forecast to roll across the southern Rockies, the risk of a significant outbreak of severe weather may increase over the South Central states prior to the start of 2016,” Sosnowski said.

“The days of greatest concern would be Sunday, Dec. 27, over the southern Plains and Monday, Dec. 28., over the Mississippi Valley.”

Thus far in 2015, there have been only 10 tornado-related fatalities in the United States, which is significantly lower than the 20-year average.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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