Central, Southern Plains on alert for possible flash flooding and severe storms this week
Many locations, including Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Shreveport, Louisiana, have not recorded measurable rainfall since the end of October.
Flash flood, severe storms threat building for Plains mid-week
Wednesday through Friday offer a chance for flash flooding and severe weather from Texas to Missouri. The worst of the weather is expected Thursday into Friday morning, with a level 2 flash flood threat in place.
A slow-moving pocket of energy forming in the West is set to bring some of the first measurable rainfall to the South and Central Plains this week, with the possibility of severe storms and flash flooding.
This energy will bring showers and thunderstorms to the Central Plains from Wednesday night into Thursday, creating a level 1 out of 5 severe weather threat in Texas and Oklahoma.
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(FOX Weather)
Strong winds and large hail are the main concern with this system.
Two overnight storms produce hail, some reported to be as large as tennis balls, on March 17, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas.
(Rodger Mallison/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service / Getty Images)
In addition to the severe weather threat, a level 1 out of 4 flash flood threat is in place for parts of central Texas, southern Oklahoma and southwestern Arkansas on Wednesday.
By Thursday, the flash flood threat stretches into Missouri and Kansas, with a level 2 threat covering cities like San Antonio, Dallas, Oklahoma City and Wichita, as well as much of southwestern Missouri.
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(FOX Weather)
A broad zone from St. Louis to San Antonio is likely to receive 2–3 inches of rain, with localized totals up to 5 inches from southern Missouri into northern Texas through Friday.
ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 15: The St. Louis Gateway Arch is reflected in a puddle of water left on the infield after a rainstorm before the second game of a MLB doubleheader between the Washington Nationals and the St. Louis Cardinals on July 15, 2023, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo.
(Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire )
A Flood Watch is in effect from Wednesday to Thursday across central Texas, including areas like Kerr County in Texas Hill Country which experienced deadly flooding on July 4.
There is a chance storms could turn severe on Thursday evening across Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana, but the exact forecast for severe weather remains uncertain.
(FOX Weather)
While the chance for severe weather is unclear, plenty of rain will be falling through Friday.
Many locations, including Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Shreveport, Louisiana, have not recorded measurable rainfall since the end of October.