Severe Thunderstorms and Heavy Rain Kick Off 2017 in the South

Linda Lam
Published: January 1,2017
Strong to severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging wind gusts, large hail and a few tornadoes will rumble through the South to begin 2017.

Current Radar, Watches and Warnings.

(MORE: View National Interactive Radar Map | Difference Between a Watch and a Warning)
Moisture returning north from the Gulf of Mexico in combination with a vigorous upper-level disturbance and strengthening low-pressure system are the ingredients involved in this severe weather threat. Heavy rain will also accompany the storms, which will benefit the drought conditions but could also cause some localized flooding.
Below is a look at the timing of this severe storm threat, which will ramp up Sunday night and continue through Monday. With the severe storm potential beginning overnight Sunday, now is the time to make sure you have a way to get the latest warning information while you sleep.
(MORE: Night Tornadoes Are Particularly Deadly)

Severe Thunderstorm Forecast

Sunday - Sunday Night

• Forecast: A few severe storms cannot be ruled out along the northern Gulf Coast during the day. The primary threat of severe storms will increase after dark and continue through overnight, from central and eastern Texas to western and southern Louisiana.
• Threats: Large hail is the main concern but damaging wind gusts and a few isolated tornadoes are also possible.
• Cities: San Antonio, Texas | Houston, Texas | Lake Charles, Louisiana

Thunderstorm Forecast

Monday

• Forecast: Severe thunderstorms may be ongoing in the morning and then slide east across the South through the day and into the evening hours. This includes a swath from eastern Texas through Louisiana, southern Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida panhandle. Some severe weather potential may extend into parts of Georgia Monday night.
• Threats: Damaging wind gusts and a few tornadoes are possible along with some large hail.
• Cities: New Orleans, Louisiana | Shreveport, Louisiana | Jackson, Mississippi | Mobile, Alabama

Thunderstorm Forecast

Rain Forecast

A wide swath of the South can expect to see 1-3 inches of rainfall through Tuesday (locally 3-5 inches), particularly from southern Louisiana to the western Carolinas.

Rainfall Forecast

Many of the areas that will see the highest rainfall totals have been experiencing the worst drought conditions, including northeastern Alabama and northern and central Georgia.
Of course, there can be too much of a good thing. Residents along the northern Gulf Coast can expect to see more than 4 inches of rainfall as multiple disturbances ripple eastward. That much rain heightened flood concerns enough to provoke a flood watch in portions of the northern Gulf Coast.

Current Flood Watches and Warnings

(MAPS: Weekly Planner)
MORE: Southern Severe Weather, November 2016 (PHOTOS)