The south faces the risk of flooding over the weekend
Heavy rain will fall along the Interstate 10 corridor over the weekend. About 2-3 inches of rain could fall around New Orleans and Savannah, Georgia.
New Orleans – The storm system that drenched the Pacific Northwest and California on Thursday is moving across the Southeast with heavy rain and thunderstorms.
The Storm Prediction Center on Friday issued a severe thunderstorm warning for much of central Texas, where several tornadoes were reported.
Due to less instability around the Gulf Coast over the weekend, fewer severe storms are expected, but heavy rainfall could cause problems, especially for the ongoing Mardi Gras celebrations.
Heavy rains flood the southeast of the country (Fox Weather)
Heavy rains raise flood threat, Mardi Gras parade schedules modified
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Weather Prediction Center highlighted parts of southeast Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi as being most at risk for heavy rainfall and flooding.
That area includes Baton Rouge and New Orleans on Saturday, where Mardi Gras celebrations are being held for a month.
There are more than two dozen Mardi Gras parades scheduled Friday through Sunday in New Orleans, and Saturday into late evening will likely be wet, with 3 inches of rain expected amid 35 mph wind gusts. In fact, some marches have had to adjust their schedules.
“Five crows on the New Orleans route were forced to start rolling two hours early, with the sixth crow actually delayed until Sunday,” FOX Weather meteorologist Brandi Campbell reported from New Orleans on Friday. “Working with the New Orleans Police Department, crews have decided to reduce gangs and other marching elements within their crews.”
About 15 minutes away in Metairie, Louisiana, the Mad Hatter's Magic Show was the only show scheduled for Saturday. But now they will be rolling in Sunday behind the Atlas parade after learning from meteorologists that they would have been weather-beaten if they had not moved the parade.
“You see thunderstorms at your parade, it's the most empty feeling you can have,” Joey LaCoste of the Magical Krewe of the Mad Hatters told FOX Weather. “You know, your heart longs for your feet. So we were very concerned. And there's a safety issue here because we have big floats that would attract lightning. And no one wants to sit in a thunderstorm to watch the show.”
Mardi Gras continues in New Orleans despite rain on Saturday
Heavy rains affecting the west are expected to move to the southeast during the next few days. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Prediction Center highlighted parts of Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi as being at increased risk of heavy rainfall and flooding. Active El Niño patterns are known to produce heavy rainfall over the south.
NOAA says BLOWTORCH weather will continue through the last full month of winter
How much rain will fall?
Forecast models show widespread rainfall of 1-2 inches across the South, with some communities potentially seeing upwards of 3-4 inches. Some counties in Mississippi have already been placed under a flash flood watch.
More than a dozen river gauges across the lower Mississippi River Valley are already in flood stage from the remnants of January's heavy rains.
Several storm systems have passed over the area over the past three weeks, dropping between 1-2 feet of rain.
Beneficial rains reduced areas experiencing extreme and exceptional drought conditions by more than half, but 88% of Louisiana and 84% of Mississippi remain unusually dry.
By Tuesday morning, the entire storm system is expected to be off the East Coast, but with an active southerly jet during an El Niño pattern, more rain chances are expected to impact the Gulf Coast.
The Northeast and Midwest to see a sunny weekend after a week of persistent gloom
Severe weather reports
Storm chasers spotted at least two tornadoes in Texas on Friday.
It is believed that the tornadoes were on the ground for only a few minutes, but that did not stop people like Hayley Jo from posting photos and videos of the tornado that passed through Saggerton, Texas.
Sagerton is about a three-hour drive outside the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
The hurricane passes through Sagerton, Texas, on Friday evening
A tornado briefly touched down on the ground in Sagerton, Texas, on Friday evening. There were no initial reports of damage caused by the hurricane.
At least one additional tornado was spotted outside Haskell, Texas.
In both cases, there were no reports of widespread damage or injuries.
SPC also received several reports of quarter-sized hail and 60 mph wind gusts.
A brief tornado passes through Haskell, Texas
A supercell thunderstorm produced a tornado in rural Haskell, Texas, on Friday.
