Soaking rainfall is expected to spread east along the Gulf Coast and through other parts of the South into Monday night, potentially causing flooding problems in areas where rain persists the longest.
An upper-level low pressure system and an area of low pressure sliding east along the Gulf Coast have combined to deliver the drenching downpours. The surface low pressure system in the Gulf of Mexico formed partially in response to the mid- and upper-level remnants of Hurricane Patricia. Also involved is the leftover moisture from Patricia.
(HURRICANE PATRICIA: News | Photos | Recap)
This setup resulted in flooding along parts of the Texas Gulf Coast, including the Houston metro area, on Saturday. Many roadways and vehicles were reported to be under water around Houston Saturday night. Other parts of Texas have also seen flooding in recent days, with localized rainfall totals of more than one foot. Corsicana, Texas, has already received more than 20 inches of rain since Thursday, causing serious flash flooding.
New Orleans International Airport recorded 8.67 inches of rain on Sunday, making it the fourth wettest calendar day on record there dating to 1946.
On Monday, the heavy rain moved farther east with over 4 inches of rain reported in Mobile, Alabama and Pensacola, Florida.
(LATEST NEWS: Flooding in Texas)
A sampling of total rainfall reports from Tuesday, October 20, 2015 through Monday October 26, 2015.In addition to flooding, a few rotating thunderstorms may spawn brief tornadoes along the Gulf Coast through Monday night.
(MORE: Track the Tornado Threat Right Now)
Gusty winds will also continue along portions of the Gulf Coast.
Forecast: Flood Threat Spreads East
The flood threat will continue to spread east along the Gulf Coast and into other parts of the South into Monday night. Below is the current radar showing the rain and flood alerts right now followed by the forecast.
Current Radar
Heavy Rain: The heavy rain will continue to spread a bit farther east, into portions of Alabama, Georgia, the central Florida Panhandle, as well as into North and South Carolina and Tennessee. The threat of flooding may be enhanced in southern Alabama, southern Mississippi and the western Florida Panhandle due to a persistent inflow of Gulf moisture.
Isolated Severe Storm Threat: A few severe storms capable of producing damaging wind gusts or isolated tornadoes from southern Alabama into the western and central Florida Panhandle.
Monday Night Forecast
A widespread swath from southern Mississippi to southern Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle has the potential to see 3 or more inches of rain through Tuesday. Some locations will receive locally up to 5 inches.
Forecast Additional Rainfall
On Sunday afternoon, Galveston, Texas, saw a top wind gust of 56 mph.
Winds were even stronger offshore. One location saw sustained winds to 52 mph with a gust to 62 mph as of early Sunday afternoon.
Current Winds
Coastal Flooding Continues
Onshore winds from the area of low pressure in the Gulf of Mexico could contribute to some additional coastal flooding.A coastal flooding warning has been posted by the National Weather Service from Louisiana into Mississippi until 7 p.m. CDT Monday. The warning states that minor to moderate coastal flooding is possible in low-lying areas outside levee protection.
The Mobile Bay area is also under a coastal flooding warning until 1 a.m. CDT Tuesday. The ramp to I-10 eastbound from the causeway over Mobile Bay was closed due to coastal flooding Monday morning.
Minor coastal flooding is also possible along the western Florida Panhandle. Coastal flood advisories have been posted there.
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