Severe thunderstorms, flooding rains, & tornadoes destined for Gulf States & Mississippi Valley

Photo byNational Hurricane Center

Tropical Storm Francine continues to organize in the Western Gulf of Mexico and will head for the Louisiana coast making landfall late Wednesday afternoon. Hurricane warnings are posted from Southeast Texas to Grand Isle Louisiana with Tropical Storm warnings along the Texas coast as well as Southeast Louisiana areas and areas inland. Francine will strengthen to category 1 hurricane before landfall.

Photo bystorm prediction center

Severe weather will be produced by this hurricane and we have elevated risk zones indicated for Louisiana, Southern Mississippi, Alabama, and parts of the Florida Panhandle. Tornado risk is also elevated for this area Wednesday into Thursday. Heavy rains and flash flooding are also going to be an issue over a wide geographic area

Photo byweather prediction center

Flash flood risks are elevated over Louisiana, Mississippi, Eastern Arkansas, Western Tennessee, Southeast Missouri, Western Kentucky and Southern Illinois. 8 to 10 inche of rain are possible in the moderate risk zone with 4 to 6 inch rains common in the slight risk zone indicated in yellow. Once inland Francine will track northward to Arkansas as it weakens.

Photo byTropical Tidbits

While much of the rain will be across the Gulf States, Deep South & Mississippi Valley, the remnant storm center will be blocked from carry its heavy rain to areas further north and northeast thanks to a large blocking high pressure area in the Northeast which will deflect the heavy rains southward. Showery rains across the Gulf States will likely continue into the weekend though intensity of this rain will begin to level off once Francine is no longer a tropical system. We will be monitoring this system closely over the next several days.