Severe storms to end weekend in flood-ravaged Mississippi Valley

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist

March 12,2016; 6:46PM,EST

 

 

After localized flooding downpours clear the lower Mississippi Valley on Saturday, a new storm system will threaten the region with severe weather to end the weekend.
A small, yet potent storm will cause severe thunderstorms to take aim at Arkansas and surrounding areas Sunday afternoon and evening.

Good samaritans rescue woman trapped in car from floodwaters

Cities at risk Sunday afternoon include Fort Smith, Texarkana and Little Rock, Arkansas. The threat will shift to Jonesboro, Arkansas; Memphis, Tennessee; and Greenville, Mississippi, in the evening.
Places south of I-20, including Houston and New Orleans, should remain out of the severe weather threat.
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The strongest thunderstorms will be capable of producing damaging winds, hail and downpours. The stage is also set for some tornadoes to form.
With the ground still saturated and rivers running high (or out of their banks) from the recent onslaught of rain, any of the downpours could easily led to new or renewed flooding problems.

Even if no severe thunderstorm warning has been issued, residents with outdoor plans or those cleaning up flood damage are urged to seek shelter as soon as thunder is heard. The danger of being struck by lightning will then be present.
The departure of the severe weather will be followed by dry and progressively warmer days for the lower Mississippi Valley on Monday and Tuesday.