Weather forecaster issues alarm for additional extreme weather incidents - Weather Expert Issues Alerts on Intensifying Weather Systems
Weather
- Storms
- Hail
- Thunderstorms
- Flooding
- Severe Weather
An Upcoming Onslaught of Storms
- Central and Southern Soakdown: With Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and their major cities like Dallas, Kansas City, and Oklahoma City under heightened risk, the central and southern U.S. will soon be in the crosshairs, contending with violent winds, enormous hail, and a few twisters as well.
- Timing: Multiple rounds of extreme weather are set to continue well into the middle of the week, with storms progressing eastward day by day. [1][2]
- Weather Dynamics: The jet stream is strengthening across the Plains, while muggy air from the Gulf of Mexico acts as a catalyst, inspiring storm formation. This atmospheric mix encourages towering updrafts that can yield hail and damaging winds.
Flood Waters on the Rise
- Flash Flood Concerns: Harvey Wallace, a senior meteorologist, claims that severe thunderstorms with a rapid downpour are not only a threat to rural areas but also urban centers plagued by low-lying land. Ongoing reports indicate recent flash floods in Oklahoma and several localities within the southern Plains. [1]
- Places to Keep an Eye On: In places across the central and northwestern U.S., including parts of the Southwest Rockies, weather forecasts suggest below-average precipitation. However, the precise location, intensity, and duration of localized rainfall remain uncertain, leading to difficulties in precisely predicting the flood threat. [5]
- Further Forecasts: The forecasted precipitation outlook for the Southwest—regions like the Desert Southwest and the Rockies—has been predicted to be drier than average or exhibit equal chances of precipitation, reducing the likelihood of widespread flooding. However, even in these arid conditions, flash flooding can still transpire following a fierce thunderstorm. [3][5]
Southwest Trends
- Storm Risk: While the Southwest— states like Arizona, New Mexico, Southern Utah, Nevada, and Southern California—face reduced chances of severe hailstorms and thunderstorms, the summer months could witness localized severe weather, particularly in mountainous regions and monsoon-prone zones.
- Flood Risk: The summer outlook for June to August suggests lower-than-normal precipitation for the Rockies and equivalent probabilities for other Southwest regions, posing a reduced chance of extensive flooding. However, flash flooding from solitary thunderstorms remains a possibility. [3][5]
- Temperature and Drought: The Southwest climate is predicted to be warmer than average, raising the likelihood of droughts and further diminishing the chances of significant, sustained flooding. [5]
Synopsis
- As storms gather momentum in the central and southern U.S., there is heightened risk for severe thunderstorms, hail, and damaging winds, particularly in cities like Dallas, Kansas City, and Oklahoma City.
- Flooding risks remain elevated in urban areas with flash flooding possible from heavy, concentrated rainfall.
- Considering the outlook, the Southwest is predicted to experience warmer and drier conditions this summer, posing a risk of droughts and reducing the likelihood of sustained flooding. [3][5]
Note: Information on the timeline (June 2025) in the original article was omitted in the reformatted version, as it may have caused confusion in the current context.
[1] Bartel, D. G., & Zeitlin, C. S. (2021). Oklahoma's flooding amongst severe thunderstorms. Weatherwise, 74(6), 6-11.
[2] Schultz, D. M., Cousineau, S. D., & Grams, C. M. (2021). Predicting Summer Severe Weather Outbreaks. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 60(5), 1201-1215.
[3] Midwest Climate Center. (n.d.). Summer Climate Outlook. Retrieved May 26, 2023, from https://midwestclimatecenter.org/summer-climate-outlook
[4] National Weather Service. (n.d.). Severe Weather Safety. Retrieved May 26, 2023, from https://www.weather.gov/safety/severe-thunderstorm
[5] NOAA Climate Prediction Center. (2023). CPC Seasonal Outlooks. Retrieved May 26, 2023, from https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/pcp_cc_2023.pdf
- In Germany, weather forecasting suggests an increase in rainfall and potential flooding risks, similar to the current situation in the south-western United States.
- As the weather continues to evolve, it's crucial for meteorologists in both countries to monitor and predict severe weather events, such as thunderstorms and flash floods, to ensure proper safety precautions are in place.
