...HEAVY RAINFALL AND FLOODING ARE INCREASINGLY LIKELY LATE THIS
WEEK AND INTO THE WEEKEND...
...A PROLONGED PERIOD OF ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL LIKELY TO CONTINUE
THROUGH MID TO LATE JANUARY...
The latest forecasts continue to indicate an increasing likelihood
of heavy rainfall and flooding issues late this week and into the
weekend. A cold front will approach the region on Friday and then
stall out across the region. A secondary storm system is forecast
to develop and then move northeastward along this stalled out
front and will bring multiple rounds of moderate to heavy rainfall
to the region. Some thunderstorms will also be possible in this
setup which could bring locally higher amounts of rainfall to some
areas.
The latest forecasts still suggesting an axis of heavy
precipitation will develop over portions of the region. Within
this band 3 to 5 inches of rainfall could occur with locally
higher amounts. At this time, there is still considerable
uncertainty on where this heavy rainfall axis will set up.
Soil conditions across the region are nearly saturated due to
recent rainfall events over the past few weeks. The additional
rainfall expected late in the week will likely result in flooding
problems developing this weekend. These flooding problems could
develop very quickly in some areas. The highest risk of flooding
will be in areas that are low-lying and have very poor drainage.
In addition, area low water crossings will be under the threat of
flooding.
Water levels on area rivers are high and are running above normal
winter pool levels. The additional rainfall expected later this
week will likely push these rivers higher and some forecast points
will go into flood as early as this weekend and then continue
next week.
Looking beyond this weekend, the long range forecasts indicate
that several more systems could impact the region next week with
additional rounds of moderate to heavy rainfall. Should these
heavy rainfall events materialize, there is a high probability
that river flooding will become an increasing problem for the
remainder of January.
Stay tuned to 92.7 The WAVE for the latest on this potentially
significant heavy rainfall and flooding event.
significant heavy rainfall and flooding event.
