Forecast Rains a Double Edged Sword for Southern Plains

July 13,2013; 9:47PM,EDT

 

 

The southern Plains, after baking in 100 degree heat for several days, will experience a colossal shift in weather in the next few days.
While high temperatures are forecast to eclipse 100 degrees in places from Texas to Kansas Saturday, temperatures will only top out in the 70s and 80s in much of this same area from Sunday through Tuesday as a storm system approaches from the east.
Not only will this storm bring an end to the streak of 100-degree temperatures for places such as Dallas, it will also bring much needed rainfall to the Plains states. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, much of the region is suffering from extreme to exceptional drought.
Initially, the heaviest rains will be focused from central Oklahoma into north-central Texas on Sunday with a separate area of rain developing across the mountains and I-25 corridor of Colorado. This area will quickly expand to the south and west to include central and West Texas, New Mexico and the mountains of Arizona from Monday into Tuesday.

In general, a 1-3 inch rainfall is expected across these areas, although locally much higher amounts are possible, especially under any thunderstorms and in higher terrain.
Unfortunately, this much needed rain will also bring the risk for flooding into the region. The combination of this heavy rain with the dry, drought stricken soil can lead to rapidly rising waters and the development of flash flooding.
RELATED:
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Flash flooding is a dangerous and destructive phenomena so It is important to understand the threats associated with flash flooding as well as precautions in case flooding should impact your area. Useful flood safety tips from AccuWeather.com can be found in this article as well as this video.
This storm is expected to move to the west of the region by the Wednesday, allowing warmer weather to return for the end of the week.