Around 15 million people across the U.S. South are under flood alerts as another round of heavy rain and thunderstorms moves through the region after a wet Memorial Day weekend. From Louisiana to Georgia, forecasters warn that some areas could receive up to 2 inches of rain, increasing the risk of flash flooding in places already soaked by recent storms.
The rain threat is not limited to the Southeast. An area stretching from the Carolinas to western Texas is also expected to see excessive rainfall. In southwest Texas, including Midland and Fort Stockton, the weather system could also produce large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes.
The stormy conditions have already caused problems over the holiday weekend. Photos and videos showed flooded driveways in Mississippi and cars stranded in several inches of water across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Strong, stationary thunderstorms also hit north Texas hard on Memorial Day, adding to concerns about further flooding.
In New Orleans, a flood watch remains in effect until 7 p.m. local time Tuesday. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue through the evening, with rainfall totals of up to 1 inch likely and as much as 2 inches possible in some spots. Atlanta is also under a flood watch until 11 p.m. local time Tuesday. The city is expected to see between 0.75 inches and 1.25 inches of rain, with isolated areas potentially getting up to 2 inches.
Forecasters say the biggest concern is not just the total amount of rain, but how fast it may fall. Both New Orleans and Atlanta could experience rainfall rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour, which means flash flooding could develop even in areas not officially included in flood watches. Low-lying streets, drainage systems, and already saturated ground could quickly become overwhelmed.
The risk of flooding is expected to continue as the week goes on, with more precipitation in the forecast across the region. While the exact rainfall amounts later in the week are still uncertain, officials and residents are being urged to stay alert for changing conditions, additional warnings, and potential road closures.
The latest round of storms underscores how quickly severe weather can disrupt travel and daily life across the South, especially when repeated rainfall hits areas that have already experienced flooding.
