AccuWeather meteorologists are warning that the Southeast will see multiple days of much-needed heavy rain this week. While the rain will be welcome for non-vacationers and those with no outdoor plans, it could end up being a good thing.
Localized flooding, gusty winds and travel delays are all possible this week as showers and thunderstorms move through the area on a very humid airstream. As July winds down, the daily rain may not ease until next weekend.
Several days of showers and storms
AccuWeather meteorologists explain that this week's rainfall in the Southeast is coming from the tropics.
“An area of high pressure has developed off the southeastern coast,” AccuWeather senior meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said. “This will help direct the moisture around it through the Southeast, where it originates in the Caribbean, Central America and the Gulf of Mexico.”
Get the free ACCUWeather app
Residents and visitors alike must prepare for several days of periodic heavy rains. While there won't be a complete washout from start to finish each day, most areas will see at least one shower and thunderstorm each day until later in the week, bringing heavy downpours and risks, especially during the daytime heating period from midday to evening. .
“Heavy downpours may cause driving and travel difficulties due to reduced visibility and waterlogged roads,” Pidinowski added. Outdoor activities such as beach trips, baseball games or amusement parks in the area may be affected.
There is also the risk of flooding, not of the kind where a large river overflows its banks, but of the sudden heavy downpours that occur in low-lying, poorly drained and urbanized areas. The risk of flooding is high any time a thunderstorm drops more than an inch of rain in less than an hour, which is highly likely.
While flooding is the main concern this week, some specific storms could become severe. Severe thunderstorms can produce damaging winds and large hail. In this case, gusty winds combined with heavy rain could create temporary dangers for travelers and those stranded outside.
The risk of severe weather will be greatest from eastern North Carolina northward into eastern Virginia and Delmarva by Monday night as the storm expands to the northeast, but it's difficult to pinpoint exactly where severe weather will form later this week. storm. This is due to the chaotic nature of showers and thunderstorms expected on Tuesday and beyond.
Get your AccuWeather weather forecast
While the Florida Peninsula will stay out of the heaviest rainfall corridor for most of the week, that won't be the case by Tuesday as a tropical wave moves through and brings heavy showers and storms to the area. This “wave” is not expected to develop in the tropics, primarily because dust and dry air in the upper atmosphere will limit the intensification of this wave and other waves elsewhere in the tropical Atlantic this week.
It's not all bad news: drought expected to ease
For many in the Southeast, this week's rain will be viewed as liquid gold.
“Daily downpours are great news for farmers and gardeners,” Pidinowski said. “That's because much of eastern Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia and Tennessee All suffered from drought.”
According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor released Thursday, parts of 11 states from Georgia to Pennsylvania are experiencing “severe” or “extreme” drought. The worst of the drought is concentrated near the Alabama-Tennessee border and from the eastern Carolinas to northwest Virginia, where sparse rains for much of the past two months have led to flash droughts.
Dry weather has resulted in burn and water restrictions, sluggish streams and brown, burned lawns. This week's rains are not expected to completely end the drought, but it will provide significant relief. This is because the rain will continue for multiple days.
Another benefit of the rain is that it will limit daily temperatures in the area, with temperatures likely to be below 90 degrees in most places on most days. These high temperatures are several degrees below the historical average for late July, which is the hottest time of the year in climatological terms.
“Daytime afternoon highs will be controlled due to clouds and moisture,” Pidinowski said. “This includes cities such as Atlanta, Charlotte and Raleigh.”
A pattern change later this week or next weekend is expected to finally end widespread daily shower and thunderstorm activity in the area and return it to more isolated typical summer activity in the days leading up to August.
Want a higher level of security and no ads? Unlock advanced, hyper-localized severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts™ are sent out by our professional meteorologists who monitor and analyze hazardous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
