Flash flood threat shifts to Plains this weekend after pummeling Four Corners, Southwest
Through Tuesday, widespread rain totals of 2 to 3 inches are forecast across northeast New Mexico, western Texas and Oklahoma, southeast Colorado, and western Kansas.
Southwest flood threat extends into the Plains for the weekend
More than 2 million people are under flood alerts from New Mexico to Texas, as repeated rounds of rain continue to funnel through the Southwest. Storms slowly shift into the Plains Saturday night into Sunday, bringing rain to Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma through Monday.
THE TAKEAWAY
- Southwest flood threat extends into the Plains for the weekend.
- Heavy rain is expected from New Mexico to Kansas.
- Through Tuesday, widespread rain totals of 2 to 3 inches are forecast across the region.
After bringing inches of rain and flash flooding to the Southwest and Four Corners earlier this week, the threat is shifting into the Plains for the weekend.
A large dip in the jet stream and an upper-level area of low pressure will continue to pivot north.
Ahead of this system, moisture is pulling northward and surging into eastern New Mexico, western Texas, and Oklahoma through Saturday and Sunday, the FOX Forecast Center said.
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This is increasing the risk of flash flooding from New Mexico to Kansas throughout the weekend.
Because so much rain has already fallen over this region, the soil is saturated with moisture, which means extra rain is likely to lead to flash flooding.
Emporia, Kansas 5-17-2015 Flooded road in Lyon County Kansas day after heavy thunderstorms and small tornado in the area
(Mark Reinstein/Corbis / Getty Images)
More than 2 million people remain under some type of flood alert through Sunday across New Mexico, Colorado, and parts of Texas and Utah.
A level 2 out of 4 flash flood threat stretches from the northern tip of the Texas Panhandle into east-central New Mexico and up into eastern Colorado on Saturday.
(FOX Weather)
A wider level 1 out of 4 threat exists across the Four Corners and into Kansas.
On Sunday, the threat continues to shift East, with the level 2 out of 4 threat pushing into Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
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Through Tuesday, widespread rain totals of 2 to 3 inches are forecast across northeast New Mexico, western Texas and Oklahoma, southeast Colorado, and western Kansas.
(FOX Weather)
The FOX Forecast Center said localized totals of 3 to 5 inches or more are possible in some places.
In addition to the flash flood threat for the Southwest, severe storms will also be possible on Saturday.
(FOX Weather)
Damaging winds and large hail are the main concerns with this level 2 out of 5 severe storm threat, which primarily affects southeast New Mexico and far western Texas, the FOX Forecast Center said.
FOX Weather will continue to bring you the latest forecast as the weekend progresses.