Thunderstorms to Raise Flood Risk Across US Four Corners Into Midweek

By Brett Rathbun, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist

October 19,2015; 10:14PM,EDT

 

 

Showers and thunderstorms will continue to produce locally heavy rainfall across portions of the southwestern U.S. into Wednesday.
"The storm system over the southwestern U.S. is pulling moisture from more humid areas and into the region, resulting in a significant increase in activity," AccuWeather Meteorologist Evan Duffey said.
"Showers and thunderstorms across the area will be scattered but some could produce rainfall rates of 1 inch or more per hour," he said.

While these thunderstorms will be spotty in nature, any thunderstorm can lead to flash flooding.
This storm system will move slowly to the east through the week. This could lead to rounds of thunderstorms hitting the same areas for multiple days.
"Flash flooding is always a concern in desert areas and isolated severe wind gusts are also a possibility," Duffey said.
The shower and thunderstorm activity will not just be confined to the Four Corners states. Showers and a few thunderstorms will also target Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana into Tuesday.
Dry weather will prevail over much of California this week. This storm system, however, may produce a spotty shower, mainly across the southeastern portion of the state.

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"Campers and hikers in areas such as Zion National Park will need to stay alert and be aware of the threat for storms this weekend that can produce lightning, heavy rainfall and flash flooding," AccuWeather Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said.
Drivers traveling along Interstates 15, 17, 40, 70 and 80 should be prepared for spotty downpours. Motorists are urged to slow down to reduce the risk of hydroplaning.
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As this system tracks eastward by midweek, it may collide with a tropical system moving into the western Gulf of Mexico and unleash heavy rain across the Plains.
"Later in the week, this system will approach Texas at the same time as a significant batch of tropical moisture, and perhaps even an organized tropical cyclone," Duffey said. "The combination of the energy of the Southwest system, with the large swath of moisture moving inland from the Gulf, should lead to widespread heavy rainfall over New Mexico, Texas and the surrounding region."
While this rain will not put a dent in the significant drought across the western U.S., significant precipitation is expected to occur across much of the region this winter.