Soaking rain to stretch from Texas to Georgia early next week

By Renee Duff, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist

February 19,2016; 10:30PM,EST

 

 

Rainy conditions will drench the south-central and southeastern United States late this weekend and into early next week.
"A slow-moving front will be the focal point for locally heavy rainfall from the southern Plains to the Southeast [Sunday into Monday]," AccuWeather Meteorologist Brian Thompson said.
Spotty showers and drizzle will precede the soaking rain event and could dampen parts of the Tennessee and lower Mississippi valleys on Saturday. However, the day will not be a washout.

The main event will begin on Sunday as a swath of rain is forecast from San Antonio to Dallas and the southern Appalachians.
Roadways could be slick due to oil from motor vehicles creating a slippery glaze on the wet surface.
The heaviest rain will likely focus across the Gulf Coast states late Sunday into Monday with lighter rain stretching to the Carolina coast.
Those heading back to work Monday morning should anticipate a slower-than-normal commute due to heavy downpours and ponding on roadways.
A few embedded gusty thunderstorms are also possible especially near the Gulf Coast, but widespread severe thunderstorms are unlikely.

Firefighters battle firenado during Missouri fire

Localized flooding could also be a concern in low-lying and poor drainage areas.
"While widespread flooding is not anticipated, areas that see more persistent heavy rainfall and thunderstorms could experience flooding," Thompson said.
A surge of mild, springlike air ahead of this system will allow for rain in the higher elevations.
Thompson added that conditions may be too warm for snow across the southern Appalachians Sunday into Monday, with daytime highs expected to be in the 40s and 50s F. Temperatures in the surrounding foothills will climb to the 60s on Sunday.
RELATED:
AccuWeather US spring forecast
Northeastern US to feel like spring this weekend
Election 2016: Dry, mild weather to greet voters in South Carolina, Nevada on Saturday
Along the northern extent of the rain, "Arriving colder air could lead to a narrow swipe of snow or rain changing to snow from Pennsylvania to southern New England at the end of this weekend," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Dombek said.
A system expected to develop along this front will shift the heaviest rain into the southeastern coast and mid-Atlantic by Tuesday.
This is the same system that could develop along the East coast and bring accumulating snow to parts of the Northeast at midweek.
While this rain could put a damper on any late weekend outdoor activities, it will be beneficial in some respects.
This rain will likely be the first measurable rainfall of the month for cities such as San Antonio and Dallas. Typically, more than an inch of rain falls in both of these cities by this point in February.