Bertha's Moisture Keeps Flash Flood Risk Alive in the Southeast
The southeastern quadrant of the U.S. will continue to face the threat of flooding into the weekend as more rain will add to the already impressive rainfall totals from the last week. Read on for what you need to know about this growing threat.
Addition of Bertha Moisture Will Amplify Flood Threat in the Southeast and the Gulf Coast
It has been a stormy summer week across a large zone of the eastern U.S. Several rounds of thunderstorms over the past few days unleashed high winds, heavy rain, and tornadoes from the Great Lakes down the East Coast. The forecast of additional rain will elevate the threat of flash flooding in the Southeast and the Carolinas as grounds become overly saturated and waterways fill to the brim.
The moisture is coming from a variety of sources. While unsettled weather will continue to remain a constant in the Southeast and beyond, the precipitation left from the former Tropical Storm Bertha will continue to menace the region. Forecasters are warning that localized pockets of heavy rain and flash flooding will be a concern for parts of the Southeast closer to the Gulf Coast through the weekend.
The fast rate of rainfall could be enough to quickly overwhelm storm drains and lead to street flooding, particularly in urban areas. The greatest concern in rural areas will be water rising along small waterways. Some of the strongest storm cells could pack rainfall rates of 2 inches per hour. The threat of flooding will be the highest across the rugged terrain of the Appalachians.
Major urban areas such as Atlanta, Charlotte, and Raleigh will be under the threat of heavy rain on Friday. For instance, rain showers in the morning will give way to scattered thunderstorms in Atlanta as commuters head home for the weekend. The shroud of clouds will keep highs in the low 80s in the Peach City.
The stormy pattern will persist as some parts of the U.S. are cleaning up after the week's severe weather. Tornadoes were reported across parts of Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Looking ahead to the end of the weekend and early next week, thunderstorm activity is expected to return to the Northeast and mid-Atlantic.
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