Severe Weather

Heavy Rain Could Cause Localized Flooding in the South-Central States

Don't Underestimate The Power Of Water

Locally heavy rain will impact parts of the south-central states and the western Gulf Coast early this week as showers and thunderstorms move through those regions.

Though no widespread flooding is expected at this time, there could be some localized areas where flash flooding does develop through Monday night, particularly in Texas, eastern Oklahoma and along the Louisiana Gulf Coast.

The heavy rain caused some road flooding Sunday near Burnet, Elgin, and Seymour, Texas.

(MORE: View National Interactive Radar Map | Difference Between a Watch and a Warning)

Our forecast rainfall map shows that most areas will see an inch or less of total rainfall through Tuesday. Some areas, however, could pick up several inches in a short amount of time where storms move slowly or stall. That was the case in Jefferson County, Texas, Monday morning where a localized pocket of 4 to 8 inches of rainfall was detected by radar.

(FORECAST: Dallas | Houston)

Drought conditions have been spreading across the lower Mississippi Valley and into eastern Texas and eastern Oklahoma since the end of September, so this rainfall will likely be beneficial for those areas. Too much rain in a short amount of time, however, could still cause flooding in some locations.

If you encounter a flooded roadway, do not attempt to drive through the floodwaters. This is a very dangerous thing to do and causes many flood deaths in the U.S. each year.