By Brett Rathbun, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist
December 23,2015; 8:40PM,EST
Severe thunderstorms packing the potential for isolated tornadoes and flash flooding will affect a large portion of the Mississippi and Ohio valleys prior to Christmas.
People from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes need to remain aware of rapidly changing and dangerous weather conditions during their holiday preparations or when venturing on the road.
JUMP TO: Severe thunderstorms to target areas from Gulf Coast to Ohio Valley | Flash flooding threat from the Gulf Coast to the Carolinas | Active weather pattern to continue into next week
BREAKING: Severe storms slam central US
Severe thunderstorms and isolated tornadoes to target areas from Gulf Coast to Ohio Valley
The severe weather outbreak will occur through Wednesday night.
The most common effects produced by the storms will be high winds and torrential downpours. However, isolated tornadoes can occur in the strongest storms.
Wind gusts of 70 mph can occur in some of the storms in absence of a tornado.
Winds this strong can knock down trees, cause property damage and send loose items airborne.
A small number of thunderstorms can become severe from the Florida Panhandle to North Carolina into Wednesday evening.
The main severe weather threat will throttle up from portions of Louisiana, Arkansas and Missouri to western and central Mississippi, western Tennessee, western Kentucky, Illinois, and western Indiana.
Thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes developed in western Arkansas and southern Missouri during Wednesday morning.
The part of the atmosphere capable of producing thunderstorms with tornadoes will push eastward and will stretch northward into Wednesday night.
According to AccuWeather Storm Warning Meteorologist Alex Avalos, "The most favorable conditions to produce tornadoes is from northern Mississippi through western Tennessee into Wednesday evening."
"During late Wednesday night, conditions will become less favorable for tornadoes, but there could still be thunderstorms with damaging winds and a tornado or two as far to the northeast as the Ohio Valley," Avalos said.
The risk of severe weather will continue into Wednesday night and extend from parts of northern and western Alabama to middle Tennessee, central Kentucky, eastern Indiana and part of western Ohio.
Some cities at risk for severe storms include Chicago and Springfield, Illinois; St. Louis; Little Rock, Arkansas; Alexandria and New Orleans, Louisiana; Jackson and Tupelo, Mississippi; Memphis and Nashville, Tennesee; Birmingham and Mobile, Alabama; Louisville, Kentucky; Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Cincinnati.
Since some of the storms will occur after dark, the situation can be especially dangerous. Some of the storms may contain little lightning and could be difficult to spot well in advance.
During Thursday, strong to locally severe thunderstorms will extend from the central Gulf Coast states to the central Appalachians. The storms will bring the potential for localized torrential downpours and strong wind gusts.
Flash flooding threat from the Gulf Coast to the Carolinas
In addition to damaging winds, the risk for flooding will be prevalent farther east.
Locations from the central Gulf Coast to the western Carolinas are at risk for the heaviest rain that may trigger flash flooding.
"Into Christmas Eve, parts of the Gulf Coast could get 4 to 5 inches of rain with locally higher amounts," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said.
"While this rain will fall over the span of multiple days, flooding will still be a concern given how wet it has been recently," Pydynowski said.
Rainfall across the rest of the Eastern states will generally range from 0.50 of an inch to 1.00 inch with localized totals of 2 inches into Christmas Eve.
Some of the cities at risk for potential flooding include Tallahassee and Pensacola, Florida; Monroe and Alexandria, Louisiana; Jackson and Biloxi, Mississippi; Mobile and Montgomery, Alabama; Atlanta and Macon, Georgia; Greenville and Columbia, South Carolina; Charlotte and Asheville, North Carolina.
"This amount of rain will certainly be enough to cause some flooding issues and create headaches for those traveling to visit friends and family for Christmas," Pydynowski said.
RELATED:
Southeast US interactive radar
Christmas travel weather forecast
Drenching rain to disrupt holiday travel across eastern US
Those traveling along interstates 10, 20, 55, 59, 65, 75 and 85 will be facing days of heavy rainfall and reduced visibility.
Rain jackets and umbrellas will be needed for those doing any last-minute shopping for the Christmas holiday.
Drivers are urged to reduce speeds during episodes of heavy rain and ponding on roadways to reduce the risk of hydroplaning.
Never drive through a flooded roadway. Less than 10 inches of flowing water can wash vehicles away.
Keep track of the rain moving across your area by using AccuWeather Minutecast®. Mobile users can use their GPS location.
Active weather pattern to continue into next week
Another threat for flooding and severe thunderstorms is likely to follow late this weekend into early next week.
"As a major storm is forecast to roll across the southern Rockies, the risk of a significant outbreak of severe weather may increase over the South Central states prior to the start of 2016," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.
"The days of greatest concern would be Sunday, Dec. 27, over the southern Plains and Monday, Dec. 28., over the Mississippi Valley, according to Sosnowski.
Thus far in 2015, there have been only 10 tornado-related fatalities in the United States, which is significantly lower than the 20-year average.
Content contributed by AccuWeather Meteorologist Renee Duff.
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