UNITED STATES - Rounds of heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected to impact a broad stretch of the central United States through Sunday, bringing both drought relief and an increasing risk of flooding from Texas to the Ohio Valley. Farther north and east, melting snow and river ice could add to water concerns in parts of the Northeast.

According to AccuWeather, multiple storm systems will track from Texas and the southern Plains into the Ohio Valley and eventually the Northeast over the coming days. Warm, moisture-rich air from the Gulf will collide with lingering colder air to the north, creating conditions favorable for severe thunderstorms across portions of the Plains and Mississippi Valley, while some areas of the Northeast may see snow and ice.

Rainfall totals from the middle Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley are generally expected to range from 1 to 4 inches, with isolated higher amounts possible. AccuWeather’s Local StormMax™ projection indicates that some locations could receive up to 7 inches. While major rivers such as the Ohio and Mississippi remain below normal levels after months of dry conditions and may be able to absorb much of the runoff, smaller rivers and streams could rise quickly, leading to localized flooding.

A more significant flood threat is forecast farther south. From central Texas to parts of Arkansas and Missouri, repeated rounds of rain beginning this weekend could bring 3 to 6 inches of precipitation, with localized totals approaching 12 inches. As soils become saturated, runoff may increase rapidly, particularly in areas with hardpan soils and hilly terrain, elevating the risk of flash flooding and sharp rises on secondary rivers.

In the Northeast, warming temperatures combined with melting snowpack are raising concerns about ice jam flooding. Thick ice that formed during extended periods of cold can break apart and accumulate at bends or narrow points along rivers, causing water to back up and potentially flood upstream areas. If an ice jam suddenly releases, downstream flooding can follow. The risk is expected to increase later in March as thawing conditions expand northward.

AccuWeather notes that while the incoming rainfall will help alleviate drought conditions across portions of the central U.S., communities along vulnerable waterways should remain alert to changing conditions as the pattern unfolds.

Stay with ANUK for continued coverage of active weather patterns.