Beachgoers and outdoor enthusiasts along the Gulf Coast may need to adjust their plans this week as heavy tropical-like rain and thunderstorms threaten areas from Louisiana to Florida, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
A stalled cold front combined with moisture surging from the Gulf of Mexico is expected to dump heavy rain across the region, raising concerns of flash flooding, particularly along the Interstate 10 corridor from Tallahassee to New Orleans. Rain and thunderstorms are expected to begin Tuesday afternoon and continue into Wednesday.
While the weather pattern resembles the one that spawned Invest 93L off the East Coast last week, tropical development is not expected this time.
In addition to the rain threat, a massive heat dome is building over the central U.S., sending temperatures into the upper 90s for large swaths of the country. Though it’s not expected to break records, the heat dome will create dangerous heat conditions and fuel powerful storms around its northern and eastern edges — an area meteorologists call the “ring of fire.”
These storms, driven by intense daytime heat and unstable air, could bring damaging winds, large hail, and torrential rain. Forecasters warn that if storms stall over the same area, flash flooding is highly likely, especially in regions recently impacted by flooding.
Residents across the Southeast and Gulf Coast are urged to monitor weather updates and remain alert for flood advisories or severe storm warnings in the coming days.
