Millions of Americans face a stormy weather forecast for Memorial Day weekend. Here's where rain, thunderstorms are predicted.Show Caption
A stormy Memorial Day weekend is on tap for millions of Americans.Indeed, folks trying to enjoy Memorial Day weekend activities "may face thunderstorms, heavy rain and flash flooding from Texas to New England," AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said in an online forecast.Federal forecasters agreed with that prediction, noting that "an unsettled weather pattern is expected to be in place across much of the south-central U.S. through the end of the week and into the upcoming weekend, with multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms expected," according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Prediction Center.And while much of the rainfall will help ease drought conditions, "some areas will receive multiple rounds of heavy downpours that could trigger flash flooding," AccuWeather senior meteorologist Brett Anderson said in an online forecast.Meanwhile, much of the Rockies, the Pacific Coast and far Southeast should remain mostly dry, AccuWeather said.Heavy rain to make weather headlinesHeavy rainfall is expected to make weather headlines going into the end of the work week from central Texas to the Ohio Valley, the Weather Prediction Center said in an online forecast. The heaviest rain should be across east-central Texas this weekend, where multiple storm systems will likely develop and affect the same areas.Over several days, a few inches of rain are expected across parts of Texas, western Tennessee and Kentucky, AccuWeather said. Widespread rainfall totals of 1-4 inches are likely, with localized amounts exceeding 6 inches."Residents and travelers from central and northeastern Texas to West Virginia should keep rain gear nearby, as repeated showers and thunderstorms may cause lightning delays for outdoor events," Sosnowski said.In flood-prone Houston, the National Weather Service said, "this rainfall will generate runoff and cause rises on area rivers and watersheds…. [We] cannot entirely rule out moderate to isolated major stage flooding depending on where the most rainfall accumulates."In Houston, "major stage flooding" means bayous or rivers are well out of their banks, flooding large neighborhoods – not just low spots or streets.Cool NortheastAccording to Fox Weather, after a warm start to the week, temperatures in the Northeast will fall back to conditions more reminiscent of early spring, with highs in the 60s through the holiday weekend.A cool, cloudy pattern is setting up for much of the Northeast and New England later this week and into the weekend: "In terms of temperatures, a 'cold air damming' type event will likely become established east of the Appalachians with overcast skies and periods of mainly light rain at times to close out the work week, and warm and humid conditions continuing south of the boundary," the Weather Prediction Center said.Southwest is bestThe best weather from May 23-25 will be in the Southwest, where sunshine is forecast to dominate most days, AccuWeather said. Cooler weather with scattered showers is expected across parts of the Pacific Northwest on Memorial Day.“A significant warmup is expected across the northern Plains on Monday,” AccuWeather's Anderson said.Doyle Rice is a national correspondent for USA TODAY, with a focus on weather and climate.
