Play was suspended twice Friday afternoon — at 3:07 p.m. and again at 4:22 p.m. — due to weather advisories during the second round of the Masters Championship in Augusta, Georgia. The postponement on Friday may be the beginning of a series of weather problems in the tournament over the weekend.
Professional golfers and fans are likely already alarmed by the forecast for heavy rain and persistent thunderstorms in the south-central and southeastern United States.
Even more problematic is the dismal weather forecast for Saturday in Augusta, which shows a 100% chance of rain and a cold high temperature of just 51 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. And Sunday looks only marginally better.
A wet Friday and weekend also await in the Pacific Northwest, forecasters said.
Despite the threat of floods in some areas of the country, in many areas recently You can expect to enjoy some spring sunshine, subject to successive severe storms.
Here's what you need to know about Friday's weather:
Flood threat in the south
Cool, dry air will put an end to the severe weather threat in the Mid-Atlantic region on Friday. But in the South, it can be swamped in cities including Brownsville, Texas, and New Orleans Up to 2 inches of rain.
Up to 4 inches of rain could inundate Jackson, Mississippi, Augusta and Atlanta, Georgia, said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Bob Larson.
That's because the stormy weather will stall over the area, bringing frequent rounds of heavy rain that could cause flash flooding and other problems from Texas to North Carolina starting Friday and into the weekend.
In Augusta, “spectators and golfers may be at risk from lightning strikes, the effects of sudden wind gusts and heavy rainfall,” according to AccuWeather.
By Saturday, while the threat of thunderstorms in the Masters area should diminish, heavy, cold rain throughout the day should be the main weather story. Bone-chilling northeasterly winds of up to 17 mph will add to the miserable conditions for spectators and golfers alike.
And on Sunday, while the risk of rain will decrease in Augusta, high temperatures in just the 50s and blustery, cold winds will provide a stern test in the final round of the tournament.
North Carolina floods
Heavy rain led to flooding Friday in North Carolina, causing problems on roads in the Raleigh-Durham area, local TV stations reported. As of mid-afternoon, the weather service office in Raleigh had canceled all flash flood warnings, but “ponddling on roads remains possible with moderate rain,” the weather service tweeted.
Weather watches and warnings in the United States
Wildfires could rage in the central United States
Nebraska and parts of central Kansas and the Central Plains are under red flag warnings, meaning any fires that start could spread quickly.
The National Weather Service is forecasting critical weather Friday afternoon and wind gusts of 15 to 25 mph in the area, with gusts up to 35 mph. The relative humidity will reach 15%.
Large portions of western Kansas and southwestern Nebraska are experiencing significant drought, resulting in low fuel moisture, according to the NWS.
“Exercise caution if engaging in activities that could spark fires,” the weather service said.
Wet in the northwest
Wet and unstable conditions are expected across much of the Pacific Northwest on Friday and into the weekend, the weather service said. Rain and snow at high elevations are expected to continue through much of the day across the Northwest, before the next round of unsettled weather arrives Saturday morning.
The weather service expects that by Sunday, moderate and persistent precipitation over a deep snowpack could lead to isolated flooding along the Pacific Northwest coast.
Blessed Friday: Pleasant conditions for most of us
Despite some threats, the United States will generally have a pleasant Friday, depending on the weather.
For example, residents of Toledo, Ohio, should expect to see temperatures in the high 50s and sunny weather.
Conditions in much of rain-soaked California are expected to return sooner Back to normal with temperatures in the 70s.
National weather radar
