Storms, Heavy Rain Linger In The South-Central U.S.

The hits just keep coming across the southern Plains, with activity stretching further east into the Mississippi Valley tonight.

Today is the third day in a row that parts of Oklahoma and northern Texas see rounds of heavy rain and severe storms. A slow-moving cold front will finally push the heavy rain and storms eastward tonight.

The volatile warm, moist air ahead of the cold front will provide plenty of fuel for additional storm activity. The Storm Prediction Center has an Enhanced Risk highlighting the best potential for severe storms from northern Texas to central and eastern Oklahoma, western Arkansas, and southwestern Missouri. This includes Dallas and Wichita Falls, Texas, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Okla., and Springfield, Mo.

More scattered strong to severe storms could develop further south along the front across central and eastern Texas, and further northeast up through eastern Missouri and western Illinois.

Gusty squalls will be the main threat with today's storm activity, and several tornadoes, some of which could be strong, are also possible. Some of the more robust storms in the southern Plains could have damaging hail as well.

The slow-moving storms will also produce areas of heavy rain through tonight. Rainfall of 1 to 3 inches will be common from northeastern Texas and eastern Oklahoma to western Arkansas, much of Missouri, and northern and central Illinois. Locally higher 3 to 5 inch amounts could also occur. Flash Flood Watches are currently in effect for far north-central Texas, central and eastern Oklahoma, southeastern Kansas, northwestern Arkansas, and southwestern Missouri.

Be on the lookout for relevant watches and warnings today. Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Watches indicate that the ingredients for those events are present in the atmosphere, whereas Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Warnings alert regions to ongoing or imminent activity.