A strong cold front associated with a rather cold spring storm will settle in over the Southern U.S. over the next few days. Initially, this will produce possible severe storms as it moves into the region. (Related Story: Severe Storms Likely Through Tonight, Monday, and Tuesday) But after the front stalls out, a potential flood risk takes over.

High amounts of atmospheric humidity will spread north out of the Gulf of Mexico where a stalled cold front will work with weaker systems aloft to bring bouts of heavy rain and potentially severe storms.

Flood Outlooks

The Weather Prediction Center has outlined several regions where flooding is likelier to occur through Tuesday.

Through Sunday night, a level II threat for flooding, or a ‘slight risk’, has been defined from East Texas, to Southern Arkansas/Northern Louisiana, to Mississippi.

On Monday, a level I risk, or ‘marginal’ threat, is forecast for nearly the same areas.

By Tuesday, the threat expands up to a level II threat once again.

Amounts

One reason flash flooding (floods that develop seemingly out of nowhere, or in a very short amount of time) could be possible, is that some spots have already received quite a bit of rain over the past 5 days.

Over the course of the next 72 hours, totals could exceed over 6″ of rain!  Locally, I wouldn’t be surprised if even higher amounts could stack up in the rain guages.

The likeliest area for the most widespread higher end totals should exist around the Louisiana/Arkansas border and farther south into Central Louisiana.

The flood threat should be taken seriously, especially for those along or close to rivers or streams where flooding is already occurring.

Stay with WeatherNation for all of the latest on the potential for flooding over the Southern U.S. through midweek.