Severe Thunderstorm Watches Issued As A Few Severe Storms and Heavy Rain Expected From Gulf Coast to the Mid-Atlantic Monday

May 2,2016
A slow-moving frontal system will keep the threat of locally heavy rain and a few severe storms in play from the Gulf Coast to parts of the East to start this week.
Through this afternoon and evening, scattered severe storms may fire up from parts of the mid-Atlantic to the Gulf Coast. In addition, locally heavy rain could cause flash flooding.  The National Weather Service has posted flash flood watches for eastern Kentucky, southeastern Ohio and parts of West Virginia.
NOAA's Storm Prediction Center has issued the following severe weather watches:

• A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect until 11 p.m. EDT for parts of northeastern North Carolina and eastern Virginia. The watch area includes Richmond, Virginia.
• A severe thunderstorm watch is valid until 10 p.m. EDT for portions of eastern Kentucky, western North Carolina, northeastern Tennessee, western Virginia and southeastern West Virginia. The watch area includes Charleston, West Virginia and Knoxville, Tennessee.

Hail up to 2 inches in diameter was observed in Kimper, Kentucky and Kimball, West Virginia Monday afternoon, as well as near Independent Hill, Virginia Monday evening. Roadway flooding was also reported in parts of eastern Kentucky Monday afternoon.

Current Radar with Watches and Warnings

(MORE: View National Interactive Radar Map | Difference Between a Watch and a Warning)
This same frontal system has produced severe weather and flooding the last few days from the south-central states into the Deep South and Ohio Valley. For a recap of this system's history, scroll down below.

Severe Weather Forecast

Monday Night:

• A few severe t-storms are expected from the South to the mid-Atlantic. Damaging wind gusts and large hail are the main threats, though a tornado cannot be rule out.
• CITIES: Charlotte, North Carolina | Richmond, Virginia | Washington, D.C. 
• Locally heavy rain and flash flooding may persist in a swath from the Lower Mississippi Valley and western/northern Gulf Coast to the central Appalachians.

Monday Night's Thunderstorm Forecast

Tuesday: 

• Locations from Florida to the eastern Carolinas and southeast Virginia could see a few strong to severe storms. Gusty winds and hail are the main concerns.

Wednesday:

• A lingering threat of a few strong to severe storms may impact Florida along the tail end of the frontal boundary.

Below is the rainfall forecast through Tuesday. 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.

Rainfall Forecast

Recap: Sunday's Storm Reports

Sunday night, a tornado was reported near Darlington, Indiana,. Near Brocton, Illinois 3 inch diameter hail was observed near Sunday night and in Sugar Hill, North Carolina, hail up to 2 inches in diameter caused widespread damage Sunday evening.
Trees and power lines were downed on Sunday afternoon in La Grange, Kentucky and near Murray, Kentucky. A large barn was blown over in Smithfield, Kentucky, Sunday afternoon and significant wind damage was also reported to a home in Grayson, Kentucky early Sunday evening.
Sunday morning, heavy rain caused significant flooding in southern Louisiana, including reports of cars submerged on Interstate 49 north of Lafayette and reports of water entering some homes. Rainfall totals of 6 to 9 inches had been reported from Sunday midnight through Sunday late morning.
For the more news on the latest impacts from the severe storms and heavy rain, click the link below.
(LATEST NEWS: Severe Storms, Flooding Impacts)

Recap: Flooding and Severe Weather Reports Late Last Week

48-hour estimated rainfall ending 7 a.m. CT, Saturday, April 30, 2016 (contours) and reports of flooding (blue icons) April 29-30, 2016.

Flash flooding turned deadly Friday night in Palestine, Texas, where up to 7.78 inches of rain had fallen.
Friday night into early Saturday, evacuations were prompted in the towns of Kilgore and Hughes Springs, Texas. Homes were flooded in the Gin City community near Bradley, Arkansas. Vehicles stalled in high water in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, and a mudslide blocked a road in Plain Dealing, Louisiana. Street flooding became widespread Saturday morning in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
A cooperative observer southeast of Marshall, Texas, reported over 9 inches of rain Friday. Flooded roads even hampered National Weather Service storm survey crews trying to assess damage from Friday night's severe weather in Harrison County, Texas.
Early Saturday, 60 mph wind gusts shifted and damaged two planes at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Windows were also blown out of a few homes in Bastrop County from 75 mph winds, and high winds overturned a semi on I-35 near Kyle, Texas, shutting down the northbound lanes for a time. Some trees were downed in the far north Houston metro area in Montgomery and northern Harris Counties.

MORE: Strange Tornado Debris