Rain continues to fall on the South, providing much-needed moisture to drought-stricken Louisiana, Texas
Rain drenches the south from Texas to Georgia
More than 3 inches of rain is expected to fall along the Gulf Coast through Wednesday from Texas across the Florida Panhandle, bringing good news to the drought-stricken region.
HOUSTON — It’s a wet start to the week for the South. Heavy rain will continue to pelt the South from Texas to northern Florida through midweek, providing much-needed moisture to the extremely dry region.
After a rainy weekend, things will get really saturated this week, with more than a month’s worth of rain expected across the Gulf Coast and Deep South by Wednesday.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, the soaking setup comes from one wet punch, as the dip in the jet stream over the southern Plains works with a strong subtropical jet over Mexico, forming a low-pressure area in the Gulf of Mexico. . The low took advantage of tropical moisture in the Gulf, bringing heavy, wet rain from Texas to Georgia.
“We haven’t had much in the way of tropical systems on the Gulf Coast this hurricane season,” said FOX Weather meteorologist Jane Minnaar. “And although we wouldn’t wish for them, they do bring beneficial rain to help in drought conditions like this after what has been a very hot and dry summer.”
Wet week ahead
Rain was active at the end of the weekend, with rain falling from Texas to South Carolina. Humidity remains mostly confined to the Gulf Coast by late Sunday and through the work week.
By Monday, rain will fall in Houston as a low pressure system begins to circulate, bringing more rain along the Gulf Coast.
Nearly 3 inches of rain were recorded in Brownsville in the past three days with several more inches falling.
Along Interstate 10, rainfall totals could reach 3 inches through Wednesday night. New Orleans is expected to see between 3 and 5 inches of rain, with isolated areas getting 6 inches.
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Heavy rains create a flash flood threat across the Gulf Coast
While rainfall is much needed on the Gulf Coast, heavy and persistent rainfall also brings the risk of flooding.
On Sunday with continued heavy rain, South Texas could see flash flooding in areas including Corpus Christi and Brownsville.
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As the work week begins, the risk of flooding remains possible in the Houston area, but will shift east to New Orleans on Monday. By Tuesday, Panama City and Mobile may also see some potential flash flooding.
Rain to help with ongoing drought and wildfires
Even with heavy rain in the forecast, it will not come close to ending drought conditions in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.
Firefighters are battling drought-induced wildfires across the South and Southeast.
The latest droughts in the Gulf countries. (Fox Weather)
Houston is expected to receive up to 2 inches of rain, and it needs it. The city is experiencing a deficit of 7.7 inches of rain this year.
Increasing sudden drought across the Southeast is fueling wildfire growth
Much of southern Louisiana is in even worse shape due to exceptional drought throughout the Bayou State. New Orleans could see up to 3 inches of rain through Wednesday, putting a drop in the bucket into a rain deficit of about 28.5 inches.
Although the rain won’t end the drought, it could help extinguish the Michoud Swamp Fire creating deadly smoky conditions in New Orleans, which has caused crashes on area highways in recent weeks.
According to the latest US Drought Monitor, the exceptional drought has also expanded in Mississippi.
More rain is expected in Jackson on Tuesday and Wednesday.
