As showers and thunderstorms weaken over the next week from parts of Texas to Georgia and Florida, localized flooding problems will continue where heavy rains recur. However, AccuWeather meteorologists say parts of the Southeast will get a break from the rain and gunk in time for the weekend.
“A blast of dry air is expected to push south from Virginia this weekend, reaching much of North Carolina and at least parts of South Carolina,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said. “There will be some wind along the Atlantic Coast. Helps in breathing dry air. “
As the weekend approaches, many people in Virginia and the Carolinas will notice a drop in humidity levels. That's enough for temperatures to drop lower than recent nights, allowing for a cooler start to the day ahead of the sun-warmed air in late July.
The push from dry air will lose momentum over the southern Appalachians and across Georgia. Humidity levels may only drop slightly in these areas. Therefore, the risk of at least scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue through the weekend.
Get the free ACCUWeather app
Further south and west, a wet patch of showers and thunderstorms will develop, extending from northern Florida and southern and western Georgia to coastal areas of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and northeastern and southern Texas.
The most active areas of heavy rainfall are likely to continue as they have been for most of the week: from southeastern Texas to western and central Louisiana. These areas will be most susceptible to flash flooding and flooding along some rivers as the heavy rains so far have soaked the ground.
Get your AccuWeather weather forecast
Parts of the coast, including the Texas barrier islands, have received nearly a foot of rain this week. Inland, 1 to 6 inches of rain fell from Texas to southwestern Louisiana. An additional 1 to 3 inches of rain will fall on Sunday, with higher amounts in some areas.
Any showers and thunderstorms in the southeastern states will bring a brief risk of urban flooding due to moisture conditions in the atmosphere.
Experts urge motorists never to drive over flooded roads as water levels may still be rising and the road below may have been washed out. Currents may push or submerge your vehicle. Not only could the vehicle be permanently damaged, but the lives of potential rescuers could also be at risk.
Weather patterns will change early next week, with heavy downpours returning in some areas and ending in others.
“As heat rises over the Plains, the airflow from the Gulf of Mexico will gradually close in the south-central states,” Buckingham said. But the active area of showers and thunderstorms will move eastward, bringing the flow from the Carolinas and the northeastern Gulf of Mexico to The Appalachians will once again be plunged into torrential downpours as a dry wedge over areas from coast to south Atlantic coast erodes rapidly. Rain-soaked Southeast Texas will finally see drier weather.
As the large thunderstorm complex swoops hundreds of miles southeast from the northern Plains into the mid-Mississippi Valley, some of these thunderstorms may linger into the lower Mississippi Valley and further south and east.
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.
