A widespread and complex weather system is producing a variety of weather impacts across the middle of the nation today.
Snow and freezing rain over the Midwest will continue with heavy snow over portions of Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and eventually Illinois.
Here is a short-term weather model, showing accumulated snowfall as of late this evening. Note that the axis of heaviest snow will extend from Southeast Kansas into Northeast Missouri. Models indicate well over a foot of snow in this area.
Further south, heavy rain is expected. This image indicates that high levels of Precipitable Water. (PW) are being advected into the system. In fact, this moisture not only is feeding into the line of storms over Oklahoma and Texas, but also is feeding freezing rain, sleet, and snow further north.
Rain will become more widespread as it moves east on Friday. Models have been consistent in aligning the axis of heaviest rain from Mobile, Alabama to Columbus, Georgia, to Augusta, Georgia. There will be two primary periods of heavy rainfall. The first will extend from Friday into Saturday with the second later into the weekend into early next week.
Keep in mind that rivers over the southern half of Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia are currently running either at normal or above-normal levels. Up to 3 inches of rain likely will result in strong within-bank rises and only scattered flooding. Rainfall is expected to exceed 5 inches over portions of this area. This could result in more widespread minor flooding with scattered moderate flooding.
By the middle of next week, the weather pattern should settle down. When the Midwest snow melts, it will serve to help recharge upper soils in this drought-stricken region. The Southeast rainfall will be more complex, producing both drought relief and the potential for flooding.
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