Weather

A storm will bring drenching rain on Thursday from the Gulf Coast to the Ohio Valley and the central Appalachians. Enough rain may fall over the South-Central States to cause urban and small-stream flooding. Renewed river flooding may also occur along the secondary rivers in the region, while flooding continues in parts of the Mississippi Delta. Severe thunderstorms may develop from Louisiana to parts of Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. A few storms could be strong enough to produce tornadoes.

As warm air surges north along the East Coast, cool and moist air will linger over New England. Florida and southeastern Georgia will continue to be at risk for wildfires. Large waves will create rough surf and strong rip currents along the Atlantic beaches in the region.

Most areas from Minnesota and Wisconsin to West Texas and New Mexico can expect dry weather and some sunshine. A storm from western Canada will spread some rain and snow southeast across Montana, eastern Wyoming and the western part of the Dakotas. The rest of the West can expect a dry day, with a mainly sunny sky. High pressure will build slowly east from the Pacific Ocean while the jet stream bulges north.

FOCUS: Severe Storms With Flooding Rain

Flooding downpours on Thursday are most likely to develop from the Ohio Valley to the central Gulf Coast. Some of the storms across the Gulf Coast may turn severe, with damaging winds, hail and isolated tornadoes. Spring warmth will surge across the East.