Heavy weekend rain, possible flash flooding predicted from Texas to Maryland
Days after parts of the south-central U.S. suffered freezing temperatures and ice that knocked out power to millions and resulted in dozens of deaths, many of the same areas are at risk of flash flooding from heavy rainfall expected over the weekend.
Excessive rainfall is expected along an approximately 1,000-mile-long zone from Texas to Maryland over the next three days, according to AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowsk. Soil potentially still wet from the melting snow and ice from last week's winter storm could accelerate water runoff, Sosnowski said.
Some areas could see more than 5 inches of rain, the National Weather Service said on Twitter Friday.
"Excessive rainfall will be a growing concern going into the weekend across portions of the lower Mississippi Valley, Mid-South, and Ohio Valley as multiple rounds of heavy rain impact the region," the NWS said. "Given the anticipated rounds of heavy rainfall, there will be growing concerns for runoff problems and localized flash flooding."
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Here is a 3-day animation of WPC's Excessive Rainfall Outlook going through the weekend. Given the anticipated rounds of heavy rainfall, there will be growing concerns for runoff problems and localized flash flooding. pic.twitter.com/va32atULfU
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) February 26, 2021
The heavy rain threat over the South will continue into early next week and then gradually diminish, the NWS predicted Friday.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden were expected to travel to Houston on Friday, where they were expected to meet with Gov. Greg Abbott and local leaders as Texas recovers from last week's winter storms.
Abbott said Thursday he expects to talk to Biden about the storm and requested Biden expand the major disaster declaration to an additional 54 counties.
"We will express our gratitude for the major disaster declaration already declared but also the need to expand that," Abbott said at a news conference.
Contributing: Nicole Cobler, Austin American Statesman
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Weekend weather: Heavy rain, possible flooding from Texas to Maryland
