Heavy Rains Target the ArkLaTex and Surrounding Areas

Originally posted on ZoomRadar

Heavy rains will be the story on and off over the next few days for the ArkLaTex and surrounding areas as multiple upper level disturbances cross the area. The first round of rain and storms is currently underway associated with a cold front. Some areas have already received in excess of two inches of rainfall from this event with much more on the way. Below is the radar as of 6:36 PM EST showing heavy rains and thunderstorms stretching from eastern Texas all the way to the edge of the radar image in Tennessee and Kentucky. The cold front is very evident with temperatures dropping about 30 degrees from the warm side of the front to the cold side. This could spark a few strong to severe thunderstorms this evening and into early tonight with the main threats being large hail, damaging winds, and perhaps a brief tornado. This precipitation will continue to push south and east throughout the overnight and into Friday.

The second round of rain will begin Saturday over eastern and central Texas, spreading north and eastward throughout the weekend. This rain will be associated with this same sort of stalled out cold front from the first round and a cut off low which was previously over the Rockies. The current projections from the HPC show a large swath of 5 inches or more of rainfall extending from eastern Texas into northwest Louisiana and southwest Arkansas. These are the expected rainfall totals starting this morning and ending Tuesday morning from both of these rounds of precipitation. Some isolated areas within this 5 inches or greater region could even see in excess of 7 inches of precipitation!

Despite the threat of some flash flooding from this heavy rain, this comes mostly as good news to this area. Below is the current drought monitor across the United States as of Tuesday morning. As you can see, many areas that are experiencing drought, especially in eastern Texas, will benefit tremendously from this rainfall.

In the near term though, if you live or plan on traveling through this area, be on the lookout for flash flooding. Luckily, due to the lack of snowfall this year, the excess rain should not provide for any long term threat for flooding. However, do allow yourself extra time to get from destination to destination as some of this rainfall could be very heavy and produce almost blinding road conditions at times.