Beneficial Rain Spreading into the Southeast

By Andy Mussoline, Meteorologist

December 17,2012; 7:09PM,EST

A beneficial, soaking rain will continue to spread across the Southeast into Monday.
According to the National Weather Service in Peachtree City, Ga., many streams and river levels, especially across central Georgia, are very low. Some are even setting record lows for this time of the year.
The risk for grass or brush fires in the region has been high due to the dry conditions.

The red areas represent the harshest drought conditions in the region with a less severe drought noted by the tans and yellows. The map represents conditions through Dec. 11, 2012 by the U.S. Drought Monitor.
"The best rain comes Sunday night into Monday," said AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist Ken Clark.
Rain and thunderstorms starting today from southeastern Texas to North Carolina will continue pressing eastward through Monday.

A swath of 1 to 2 inches of rain will pour down from southeastern Texas to northern Louisiana to northern Georgia and central South Carolina through Monday.
Clark added, "While the rain is not a drought buster, it is very welcomed."
There is a localized danger of thunderstorms turning severe both today and Monday.
A storm developing along an old cold front in the region and combining with a moisture laden surge of air from the Gulf of Mexico is helping to bring the beneficial rain.

The storm is part of an overall stormier weather pattern across the United States leading up to Christmas.

The last round of rain will move off of the Southeast coast Monday night before drying out across the entire region on Tuesday.