Heavy Rain Forecast to Drench Texas, Oklahoma, and the Mid-South Ahead of Thanksgiving
TEXAS — A major weather pattern is setting up across the South and Mid-South, bringing several days of heavy rainfall and potentially flooding conditions to parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee ahead of Thanksgiving.
Meteorologists say the incoming storm system could dump multiple inches of rain across the central and lower Mississippi Valley, marking one of the wettest stretches of November so far.
Heavy Rain Likely Across the South
Forecasters noted that moisture surging from the Gulf of Mexico will collide with a series of upper-level disturbances moving east, creating a widespread zone of heavy rain.
Over the next seven days, models show areas of the Mid-South could see rainfall totals exceeding 4 to 6 inches, with isolated higher amounts. The National Blend of Models (NBM) projects a bullseye of heavy rainfall centered across northeast Texas, southern Arkansas, northern Louisiana, and western Mississippi.
“This setup looks like Mother Nature knocked over the punch bowl at Thanksgiving,” one forecaster joked, adding that “some of these totals look like the clouds are filing a formal complaint.”
Meanwhile, Florida is expected to stay relatively dry through the same period, as moisture remains concentrated farther west and north.
Potential Impacts
Although this system is expected to bring beneficial rainfall to drought-stricken regions, the intensity and duration of rain could also lead to localized flooding, particularly in:
- Urban and low-lying areas
- Creeks, rivers, and bayous across the Deep South
- Roadways prone to poor drainage
Residents across Houston, Little Rock, Jackson, and Memphis should prepare for soaked conditions, travel delays, and reduced visibility through midweek.
Looking Ahead to Thanksgiving
The heaviest rain is forecast to shift eastward by mid- to late-week, gradually easing across the South by Thanksgiving Day. However, soggy conditions and lingering showers may still impact travel plans across Tennessee, northern Alabama, and Georgia.
As one forecaster quipped, “This isn’t ‘fix your hair’ rain — it’s ‘grab the kayak’ rain.”
Stay tuned to SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com for ongoing updates, rainfall totals, and local flood alerts as the system progresses through the holiday week.
