Severe storms and heavy rain to impact the South and the West
Severe storms and heavy rains are expected to impact parts of the South following weeks of inclement weather that killed over two dozen people across the region.
This comes after a devastating Memorial Day weekend that left communities from Texas to New York picking up the pieces. Tornadoes, storms and heavy rain across the region killed at least 27 people and left hundreds of thousands without power.
This weekend should be tame in comparison to the weather of weeks’ past, but there is still a possibility for strong to severe storms in parts of the country.
On Saturday, a system is expected to develop out of the Rocky Mountains and introduce the chance for strong to severe thunderstorms across the High Plains and into western Texas through the afternoon and into the evening. A low population is within the risk area with Midland, Texas and Roswell, New Mexico being the largest areas expected to be impacted. Damaging hail and wind gusts are likely, and a tornado or two is possible.
A separate system will drag showers and thunderstorms across east Texas and into much of the Mississippi Valley and Midwest Saturday. Widespread rain totals may reach an inch or two, but by the southern edge of the front in the Deep South and Gulf states, heavy rain can lead to flooding incidents — with up to 4 inches possible across parts of the Florida panhandle, Alabama and Mississippi. A flood watch is in place through Saturday afternoon along coastal Alabama, specifically Mobile, and the western portion of the Florida panhandle.
On Sunday, the system out of the Rockies will dart toward the northern Plains and Upper Midwest, bringing strong to severe thunderstorms across parts of the Dakotas, Nebraska and Minnesota. Severe storms may bring the chance for damaging wind gusts, hail and an isolated tornado. There may be some periods of heavy rain as well across the northern Plains and Upper Midwest with the chance for 1 to 3 inches of rain to fall, but flooding should be minimal.
A storm will push into the Pacific northwest Sunday bringing heavy rain to parts of Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Rainfall can reach 2 to 3 inches with a couple instances of flooding possible.
Saturday marks the start of the 2024 Atlantic and Central Pacific hurricane season. The forecast calls for a hyper-active hurricane season, with 17 to 25 named storms — the highest the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has issued ahead of a season, as the average is 14 named storms per season.