Heavy and “persistent” rains fueled by an “El Nino winter” threaten one of the wettest periods in U.S. history.
A continuing deluge caused by a series of storms hitting California has led to San Diego's fourth-wettest day on record, according to the National Weather Service.
The storms threaten one of the wettest periods in US history
Weather channel
A powerful jet stream plowing up moisture pulled in from the Gulf of Mexico will bring “relentless” heavy rain, according to the Weather Channel.
“Rain and flooding, that's what we're dealing with for the South, and that will be the threat through the rest of the week and the flood threat will continue to move,” Weather Channel meteorologist Dominica Davis said. To the east, throughout the south.
He added: “It moves towards the east on Wednesday, into Thursday, and we are still dealing with more heavy rain into Friday.
“Across the South, we're looking at some very large rainfall totals.”
Latest in the United States:
US Weather: Rain will hit drought areas (The Weather Channel)
Weather channel
Mississippi, East Texas and Louisiana will be hardest hit, where recent drying of the land will cause dangerous runoff.
“This will be important to help cope with the drought, and this is an area with severe drought conditions, so we need the rain,” Ms Davis said.
“But all this rain in a short period of time will lead to flooding.”
The barrage is likely the result of a strong El Niño, a warming phenomenon in the eastern Pacific Ocean that began last year.
El Niño can affect weather patterns around the world, including wetter weather in parts of the United States.
US Floods: The Weather Channel highlights areas most at risk of flooding
Weather channel
“These storms will, in part, be driven by El Niño,” said Jim Dale, an American weather correspondent and meteorologist at the UK's Met Office.
“El Niño increases the strength of storms, and therefore the associated heavy rainfall.
“This is helpful in some ways as these areas have been drought-stricken, and it will be helpful if they go into another summer of drought.”
Nearly three inches of rain fell at the San Diego airport on Monday, making it the fourth wettest day on record in 174 years, the National Weather Service (NOAA) said.
Heavy rain from storms that hit the West Coast flipped cars and prompted evacuation warnings.
NOAA issues flood watches across the South
Noah
Southern states have been placed under a NOAA flood watch warning, while in the north, freezing temperatures threaten snowfall.
Forecasters warn that up to eight inches of rain will fall on the most affected areas before the end of the week.
A NOAA spokesperson said: “A moderate risk for heavy rainfall has been issued for parts of the Far South and Gulf Coast through Wednesday.
“Heavy rains may cause numerous flash floods.
“Freezing rain and snow will create a travel hazard and potential power outages from the Midwest through the southern Great Lakes region and into parts of the Northeast through Wednesday.”
They added that “multiple” low-lying storm systems blowing across the southern states will collide with moist air, creating a very unstable atmosphere.
“Multiple waves of low pressure advancing along a slow-moving front across the lower Mississippi Valley will encounter returning moisture and instability from the Gulf of Mexico which will aid in heavy rain and thunderstorms today through Thursday,” they said.
“Several inches are expected which will increase the risk of flooding throughout the South.
“The Weather Prediction Center has issued a moderate risk of heavy rain across parts of these areas.”
