Severe Storms, Flooding to Threaten Southerners

A potent storm emerging from the Gulf of Mexico will threaten residents and visitors across the South with flooding rain and severe thunderstorms through Wednesday night.

A blast of colder air will follow later in the week.

By tapping into rich moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean, the storm will spread heavy rain from the central Gulf Coast to the southern Appalachians through Wednesday.

Widespread flash flooding is a serious concern, especially in low-lying and urban areas.
Some of the flooding rain across the South will be unleashed by severe thunderstorms.

These powerful thunderstorms will first erupt over southeastern Louisiana, southeastern Mississippi and southern Alabama tonight.

This includes New Orleans and Mobile.

The severe weather will shift to northern Florida, Georgia and South Carolina on Wednesday, then the rest of the Southeast Wednesday night.

Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Albany and Charleston lie within this threat zone.

In addition to flooding and blinding downpours, the strongest thunderstorms will be capable of producing damaging winds.

A few tornadoes may also touchdown and cause destruction.


You should seek immediate shelter if any storm-related warning is issued.

Be sure to pay close attention to news outlets or weather radios for these warnings.

This is especially vital for those being threatened by the severe weather, including tornadoes, at night.

You run the risk of sleeping through these potentially life-saving weather alerts.

In the wake of the heavy rain and severe weather, noticeably cooler air will filter across the South Thursday into Friday.

It is not out of the question that enough cold air is present with the next storm that some wet snow falls across the South this weekend.

By Kristina Pydynowski AccuWeather.com