Windy Storms Imminent for the Plains Wednesday Evening!

 

We’re monitoring a severe storm threat set to break out this afternoon into tonight. These storms will organize into a fast-moving squall line this evening along the KS-OK border, accompanied by widespread damaging winds.

 

 

Strong instability is building over portions of the Central and Southern Plains thanks to afternoon heating (see animation above). At the same time, upper level winds are increasing with shear of 40-50 knots. This combination will help storms intensify in southeast Colorado and northeast New Mexico in the late afternoon. As these storms move east towards southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma, a squall line should form. In the early morning hours on Thursday, expect the squall line to slowly weaken. Large hail to 2.5 inches (7 cm) will occur this afternoon and evening with the stronger cells. Later on with the squall line the main threat will become high winds 70-80 mph (115-130 kph).

 

Subtropical Storm Alberto Makes Landfall in the Florida Panhandle!

 

Alberto continues to track north away from the landfall point, which occurred near Laguna Beach, Florida around 5 pm EDT (4 pm CDT). Alberto has been slowly weakening today even prior to landfall, and this trend will accelerate as it moves away from water.

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see from the map below of maximum reported wind gusts, the only stations that have reported gusts higher than 50 mph (80 kph) have been over the open Gulf. Some surge flooding and rough surf has occurred to the east of the landfall point. However, the main story is and will continue to be the freshwater flooding threat.

 

 

The map below shows rainfall totals over the past 24 hours. The heaviest rainfall amounts of 1-3 inches (25-75 mm) have occurred over scattered areas of Florida and the lowcountry of South Carolina, where convergence of Gulf and Atlantic moisture has enhanced amounts. Going forward (second map below), the biggest threat for flooding rainfall will be along the track of the storm through Alabama and into the Tennessee Valley. A secondary rainfall maximum will be in the southern Appalachians where south-facing terrain enhances rainfall amounts. Three to six inch (75-150 mm) amounts will be common in these areas, leading to significant flooding.

 

 

Flash Flooding Inundates Ellicott City, Baltimore Area Sunday Afternoon

A persistent area of showers and thunderstorms have brought severe flash flooding to the Baltimore, Maryland suburb of Ellicott City Sunday afternoon.

Thunderstorms developed in the area just after 2 pm local time and became nearly stationary for almost hours dropping 7.47 inches of rain on the town. At one point, 1.30 inches of rain fell in just 15 minutes; a rate of 5.20″ per hour.

The following are a series of tweets containing pictures and videos from people that were in Ellicott City as the flash flooding was occurring.

Tweets from the Ellicott City flash flooding

Myanmar Braces For A High Risk Of Flash Flooding Risk This Week

Rounds of heavy rain and thunderstorms will bring a significant risk of flash flooding to Myanmar this week.

Myanmar Heavy Rain Details

The heaviest of the rain is expected from Monday through Wednesday across the north-central coast of Myanmar.
A high risk for flash flooding will exist which includes impacts such as mudslides, washed-out roads and bridges, as well as an increased likelihood for water contamination.

200-400 mm of rain is likely across central Myanmar, which includes Naypyidaw and Yangon (listed as Rangoon on the maps in this article). Elsewhere, a widespread area of over 100 mm of rain is expected over a 3-day period.

UBIMET meteorologists are tracking a disturbance across the Bay of Bengal that will send tropical moisture from the Indian Ocean northward. This tropical moisture will be the fuel for the heavy thunderstorms.

The heaviest rain risk will diminish on Thursday and Friday, but lingering moisture will still bring a risk for scattered showers and storms into the upcoming weekend.