Multiple-day deluge to instigate flooding across Texas this week

By Renee Duff, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist

May 31,2016; 9:36PM,EDT

 

 

Rounds of heavy thunderstorms will raise the risk of flooding across the south-central United States into Friday.
A system crawling eastward will induce daily doses of flooding rain and storms across Texas and Oklahoma throughout the week.
Texas, an area that has been inundated with heavy rain over the past several weeks, could be at risk for major flooding from these storms, AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rathbun warned.
"Some parts of Texas have received between 150 and 200 percent of their normal rainfall since the start of the year," Rathbun explained.

Any rainfall during this week's deluge will struggle to soak into the water-logged soil.
The heaviest storms are expected to impact Oklahoma and central and western Texas through Wednesday night, before shifting into eastern Texas, including Houston, by Thursday.
A few of the strongest storms could produce large hail and locally damaging winds.
While the threat for flooding will shift south and east of Oklahoma City on Thursday, lingering pop-up thunderstorms could delay the opening games of the 2016 Women's College World Series.
A couple of inches of rain could fall in as many hours under the heaviest storms.
Under 2 inches of rain in one hour will be enough to cause flash flooding in most of central Texas.
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Total rainfall amounts could exceed half a foot in some locations by the end of the week.
Residents and travelers should prepare for delays on the roads and in the air throughout the week.
Already swollen streams and rivers can quickly overflow their banks and flood neighboring roads and lands. Road closures are possible.
Motorists are reminded to turn around and find an alternate route whenever a flooded roadway is encountered to avoid a potentially life-threatening situation.
Rain may not be in a hurry to leave, even as the weather pattern changes a bit beyond this week.
"Dry air will push southward over a large part of the southern Plains next week," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
"However, air moist enough to produce daily showers and thunderstorms may linger over central and southeastern Texas during much of next week," Sosnowski said.