Recovery efforts in regions hard-hit by the snow and ice storms of the past few weeks will be halted by stormy weather. Multiple rounds of rain are expected starting tonight and continuing into next week, elevating the threat for flash flooding from the Lower Mississippi Valley into the Tennessee Valley.
Outlook
Rainfall rates of 1”/hour are expected at times, with a bullseye for rainfall totals of 4-8” expected from the Ark-La-Tex region across northern portions of the Deep-South into the Tennessee Valley. Thunderstorms are also possible over the next several days and could produce localized damaging winds and hail.
Impacts
Much of this rain will fall on locations that received significant snow last week. While all of that snow will have melted prior to the rain, the combination of wet soil and persistent rainfall may lead to localized flooding.
Travel disruptions are likely to occur, mainly in flood-prone areas and during any strong or severe storms that may occur. Additionally, the influx of moisture will cause areas of fog along stretches of I-20, I-40, I-77, I-81, and I-85. Low visibility can lead to multi-vehicle accidents, so transportation agencies may want to consider alternate routes or allocate longer travel time for trucks moving slowly through those regions.
Flood Preparedness
Businesses should review the flood safety section of their emergency plan and ensure that employees are aware of all procedures related to flash flooding. This is also a good time to look at where your assets are located in relation to flood zones and determine any changes needed to your SkyGuard® service. AccuWeather For Business can provide site-specific warnings for varying rainfall amounts and rates that are determined based on geographical location, flood frequency, and site design and material.
Fill out the form below for more information on rain and flood alerting.
- Recovery in areas hit by recent snow and ice to be slowed or halted as heavy rainfall impacts Texas to West Virginia
- The combination of flooded roadways and reduced visibility may lead to ground travel disruptions across this region
- Protect your company against liability by ensuring any employees driving in bad weather on company time are trained in safe, cautious driving techniques and know the actions to take in the event of an accident
- Review where assets are located in relation to flood zones and make necessary updates to your emergency procedures
