Tropical Moisture Leads to Southeast Flood Threat

By Brian Edwards, Meteorologist

August 18,2013; 12:05PM,EDT

 

 

 

AccuWeather.com meteorologists continue to monitor a stream of tropical moisture aimed at the central Gulf Coast and Southeast.
This moisture, associated with a disturbance over the southwestern Gulf, will continue to bring bouts of heavy rain to parts of the Southeast through Sunday night.
We had been monitoring the aforementioned disturbance for tropical development, but dry air and strong wind shear have really prohibited the system from organizing.
Instead, flash flooding will remain a concern across the Southeast through Sunday night.
Southeast Flood Threat Continues
Deep tropical moisture produced over 2.5 inches of rain in Mobile, Ala. on Saturday, leading to 3-day rain totals of nearly 5.5 inches.
Farther to the east, Marianna, Fla. has picked up over 8 inches of rain since Thursday morning!
Additional heavy rains are likely through Sunday from the southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle through the western Carolinas.

Additional rainfall amounts of 1-2 inches are expected through Sunday night from Gulfport, Miss. through Atlanta, Ga. and Pensacola, Fla. Locally higher amounts of 3 inches or more are possible from Mobile, Ala. through Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
With a very wet summer thus far, any additional rain could cause isolated flooding problems. However, with the tropical surge, the risk of flash and small stream flooding will be escalated into the early week.
RELATED:
Erin Struggling in the Atlantic
AccuWeather.com Hurricane Center
Southeast Regional Weather Radar
As Expert Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski explained earlier this month, the drenching rain was already starting to make it too wet for some crops.
Steadier rains will continue creeping farther northward into Monday, making it into Philadelphia, Pa. and Baltimore, Md.
Lighter showers may dampen the ground as far north as New York City, but the heaviest rain will remain to their south.
A high settled over the Northeast will likely keep shower activity at a minimum for cities and towns across central and northern New England.