More Severe Thunderstorms, Flooding Rain Into the Weekend in the Southern Plains, Mississippi Valley

April 29,2016
Following Tuesday's outbreak of severe thunderstorms in the Plains and Midwest, and Wednesday's severe weather in the Deep South and Midwest, another round of severe thunderstorms and flooding rain is poised for some of the same areas into this weekend.
(LATEST NEWS: Early Week Severe Outbreak)
Another southward plunge of the jet stream will swing through the Southwest and southern Rockies, then punch into the southern Plains Friday. This will ignite more severe thunderstorms, including potentially some tornadoes. In addition, multiple rounds of rainfall could lead to a increased risk of flash flooding.

Current Radar with Watches and Warnings

(MORE: View National Interactive Radar Map | Difference Between a Watch and a Warning)
Here's an overview of the timing and impacts for the severe threat into the weekend.

Severe Weather Outlook

Friday

• A significant piece of the jet stream dip surges east allowing for a potentially more widespread round of severe storms in parts of Oklahoma and Texas, possibly extending into southern Kansas, Arkansas, northern Louisiana, Mississippi and southwestern Tennessee.
• Threats: Supercell thunderstorms are possible, which could unleash large hail, damaging wind gusts and tornadoes. The magnitude of the tornado threat remains uncertain at this time. Heavy rainfall is likely to trigger local flash flooding, especially in east Texas, southeastern Oklahoma, northern Louisiana and Arkansas.
• Cities: Austin | Dallas-Fort Worth | Oklahoma City

Friday's Thunderstorm Forecast

Saturday

• Severe thunderstorms are possible from the mid-Mississippi Valley and Lower Ohio Valley to the Texas and western Louisiana Gulf Coast.
• Threats: Damaging wind gusts, large hail and perhaps a few tornadoes. How much severe weather there will be remains uncertain given the widespread nature of clouds and rain which may hold down instability. Once again, heavy rainfall also will be a concern and could cause flooding in parts of Arkansas, east Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.
• Cities: Houston | Little Rock | Shreveport, Louisiana

Saturday's Thunderstorm Forecast

Below is the rainfall forecast through Sunday. The heaviest rain is expected in parts of east Texas, southeast Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. Keep in mind that locally heavier amounts of rain can fall in short periods of time than what is shown on the map.
The heavy rain falling on already saturated ground is likely to produce additional flooding. Flash flood watches have been posted for portions of eastern Texas, southeastern Oklahoma and southern Arkansas.

Rainfall Forecast

MORE: Strange Tornado Debris