Millions across South face flash flood threat as rounds of storms target region through Memorial Day weekend
A localized downpour triggered heavy flash flooding and water rescues in downtown Atlanta during the height of the afternoon rush Wednesday.
Flood threat increases across the South through Memorial Day weekend
A flash flood threat stretches from Houston through the Southeast and Tennessee River Valley, including major cities like Nashville and Atlanta, where a level 1 out of 4 risk exists. Memorial Day weekend travelers will need to monitor the forecast closely, as this long-lived event is likely to bring disruptions to a large portion of the South through Monday.
More than 33 million Americans are in the bull's-eye of a mounting flash flood threat across parts of Texas and the South that is expected to increase through Memorial Day weekend.
TURN AROUND, DON’T DROWN 🌊: Dramatic traffic camera video captured the moment a driver became stranded and was rescued from rising floodwaters in Atlanta, Georgia, on Wednesday after heavy rain swamped roads across the area. pic.twitter.com/7WuxDyrBvP
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Days of intense storms are expected to soak this region and other parts of the Deep South and Southeast Coast through the Memorial Day weekend, as a plume of tropical moisture from the Gulf hangs over this part of the country.
This is part of a stagnant weather pattern where this moisture will interact with and enhance a series of slow-moving storms which will form along a stalled front through the weekend.
WET WEATHER EXPECTED TO DAMPEN PLANS FOR MILLIONS ON THE EAST COAST THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
Watch: Lightning flashes across Central Texas, as thunderstorms dump heavy rain
Lightning flashes across Round Rock and Georgetown in Central Texas, as thunderstorms dump heavy rain late Tuesday.
That scenario bore out Wednesday when a localized downpour triggered heavy flash flooding over downtown Atlanta during the height of the afternoon rush.
Drainage systems on the Interstate 75/85 interchange could not keep up with the intense rain, triggering several water rescues as cars were stranded in feet of floodwater.
(FOX Weather)
Inches of rain have already fallen across coastal Texas and portions of Louisiana over the last several days. The highest 72-hour rainfall totals were recorded in Saraland, Alabama, with 9.37 inches, followed by Freeport, Texas, with 7.37 inches; Collinsville, Oklahoma, with 7.17 inches; Winona, Mississippi, with 6.94 inches; Kiln, Mississippi, with 6.43 inches; and Sargent, Texas, with 6.08 inches.
Through Friday, the flash flood threat stretches from Houston through the Southeast and Tennessee River Valley, including major cities like Nashville and Atlanta, where a level 1 out of 4 risk exists.
(FOX Weather)
According to the FOX Forecast Center, the storms will be highly efficient rainmakers, capable of dropping 1 to 3 inches of rain in short periods of time. As multiple storms move over the same areas, rain totals can escalate with over 5 to 8 inches possible by the end of the week.
PIGGYBACKED TO SAFETY 🌊: As Mary and George Brathwaite drove along a flooded Atlanta roadway, they spotted a stranded driver sitting on top of her waterlogged sedan. Without hesitation, George jumped out of the vehicle and waded through the floodwaters, carrying the woman on his… pic.twitter.com/h25WXlSyCS
— FOX Weather (@foxweather) May 21, 2026
A few areas under a level 2 threat include southern portions of the Appalachians of western North Carolina and far northeastern Georgia.
KNOW YOUR FLOOD TERMINOLOGY: WHAT FLOOD WATCHES, WARNINGS AND EMERGENCIES REALLY MEAN
(FOX Weather)
With pockets of severe to extreme drought across the region, the rain is likely to lead to more flooding because the ground can't soak up all the moisture.
As rain slowly shifts eastward, areas across Georgia and Alabama will also receive some beneficial rain as much of the two states are under severe to extreme drought conditions.
(FOX Weather)
Memorial Day weekend travelers will need to monitor the forecast closely, as this long-lived event is likely to bring disruptions to a large portion of the South through Monday.
The risk of flash flooding will continue into Saturday and Sunday morning from Galveston, Texas into Houston and southern Louisiana, where additional level 2 out of 4 flash flood risks are present.
FILE - Raindrops on a windshield are seen with a flag that hangs on Carlson Building Supply in TO.
(Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times / Getty Images)
Flood Watches have been issued and last through Monday for locations like Galveston, Corpus Christi and San Antonio.
Stay with FOX Weather as we continue to track the latest forecast.