Severe storms, flooding downpours to rattle southern US on Saturday

By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

April 21,2017, 11:40:30PM,EDT

 

 

Following severe weather in the southern Plains on Friday, the potential for damaging thunderstorms and flooding downpours will shift eastward across the interior South into Saturday evening.
The weather pattern this weekend will not only derail some outdoor activities, but can pose a risk to lives and property in parts of the South.
Dangerous thunderstorms and flooding rainfall will continue from Missouri and Texas into early Saturday morning. The risk of severe weather will then shift into the lower Mississippi and Tennessee valleys later Saturday.
While locally heavy and gusty storms can extend from North Carolina and southern Virginia to the upper Texas coast, the bulk of the storms will be well north of the Interstate 10 corridor.

The greatest risk of severe weather will focus from middle Tennessee to central Mississippi and part of eastern Louisiana.
The primary threats from the storms will be for damaging winds, flash flooding and hail.
As is the case with any severe thunderstorm, frequent lightning strikes are likely.
A small number of the strongest storms can produce a brief tornado that could be concealed by heavy rain.
Some cities at risk for the dangerous and disruptive storms include Tupelo and Jackson, Mississippi; Florence and Huntsville, Alabama; and Nashville, Tennessee.
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People spending time outdoors should stay alert for rapidly changing weather conditions. Move indoors, away from windows as storms approach. Monitor the progress of the storms and severe weather bulletins, including any severe thunderstorm watches and warnings.
Later Saturday night, heavy and gusty thunderstorms will push toward Atlanta and the southern Appalachians. Localized flash flooding is a risk with the thunderstorms despite long-term drought conditions gripping parts of the region.

There is the potential for a few inches of rain to fall over portions of the interior South this weekend.
On Sunday, provided there is enough sunshine and warmth, heavy, gusty and locally severe thunderstorms may erupt from southeastern Virginia to northern Florida. The greatest chance of severe weather may be from South Carolina to northeastern Florida.
Drenching rain will continue to fall for a time over the southern Appalachians, as well as areas just to the east.