Days of storms soak drought-stricken Gulf Coast, Southeast with heavy rain
Meanwhile, a shot of rain for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic across the first half of the weekend will give way to seasonable temperatures and sunny skies on Mother's Day.
Deep South facing days of rain for Mother's Day weekend festivities
The South is getting soaked with heavy rain over the next few days, likely messing up Mother's Day plans on Sunday. Parts of Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi could see 1-2 inches of rain.
Rounds of storms are delivering heavy rain across the Gulf Coast and the Southeast, creating a flash flood threat through the Mother's Day weekend.
This pattern offers much-needed rain for the region which is entirely covered in drought — particularly southern Georgia, which is battling a historic dry spell.
Watch: Louisiana lashed with heavy rain, storms Friday
Video from Plaucheville, Louisiana shows a car being hit by heavy rain, limiting visibility on Friday afternoon. More rain is headed for the South through the weekend.
The tail end of the massive cold front responsible for severe weather earlier this week, including a Tornado Emergency in Mississippi, is forecast to stall over the Gulf Coast and Southeast and generate days of rain as it interacts with warm air from the Gulf.
ROGUE FLOODING 🌊: Baton Rouge streets turned into rivers after more relentless rain, with dozens of drivers navigating through the floodwaters. pic.twitter.com/1WupWgpWLU
— FOX Weather (@foxweather) May 8, 2026
NOAA's Weather Prediction Center (WPC) issued a Level 2 out of 4 flash flood threat across southern Louisiana and Mississippi. A level 1 out of 4 flood threat stretches across Alabama and Florida.
TWISTERS SLAM MISSISSIPPI INJURING 17 AND DAMAGING MORE THAN 300 HOMES DURING TORNADO EMERGENCY
This includes more than 16 million people across Baton Rouge and the New Orleans metro areas.
(FOX Weather)
According to the FOX Forecast Center, most of the region has already seen above-average rainfall for the month of May and flash flooding will be possible, especially in more urban areas.
SEE IT: MISSISSIPPI DRONE VIDEO REVEALS DEVASTATION LEFT BEHIND BY TORNADO IN BOGUE CHITTO
New Orleans is already running about 1.5 inches above its month-to-date average, while Houston has seen nearly 3 inches above its month-to-date average.
The flood threat shifts east over Alabama and parts of western Georgia and the Florida Panhandle on Sunday.
(FOX Weather)
The heaviest rain totals will remain near the Gulf Coast, with 2 to 3 inches of rainfall expected from Houston to Montgomery through Sunday.
Localized pockets of 3 to 5 inches are possible across central Louisiana into southern Mississippi and Alabama.
(FOX Weather)
However, this rain will also help cut into significant drought ongoing across the region.
Parts of southern Georgia and Northern Florida are in the midst of historic drought conditions, which has fueled wildfires that have scorched tens of thousands of acres.
GEORGIA WEATHER WARMS UP AS FIREFIGHTERS CONTINUE BATTLING MASSIVE WILDFIRES
Rainy Saturday to give way to nice Mother's Day for many across the Northeast
Meanwhile, a shot of rain for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic across the first half of the weekend will give way to seasonable temperatures and sunny skies on Mother's Day.
(FOX Weather)
A fast-moving storm will race through the Ohio Valley including Ohio, Pennsylvania, and western New York on Friday night, before rain spreads across the Interstate 95 corridor and New England Saturday.
The heaviest rain with potential for strong winds and lightning is forecast to arrive around noon for Boston, New York City and Washington, D.C.
The region is expected to dry out Saturday night, bringing sunshine on Sunday. A few showers will still be possible across northern portions of New York State and New England Sunday afternoon.
Another storm driven by an area of low pressure anchored over Canada arrives Monday morning, keeping the region wet and cool.