Excessive Rainfall Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
905 PM EDT Wed Jul 9 2025
Day 1
Valid 01Z Thu Jul 10 2025 - 12Z Thu Jul 10 2025
...THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF EXCESSIVE RAINFALL FOR PORTIONS OF
THE MID ATLANTIC...
01Z Excessive Rainfall Discussion Update...
Main focus through the late evening/early morning hours will be
south/east of a front wavering over parts of the Mid-Atlantic
region. Plenty of instability and deep moisture foster very intense
rainfall rates of 1 to 3 inch per hour ahead of the front that have
netted estimated 6 hour rainfall estimates from radar of locally 4
inch amounts where the convection has evolved into a squall line.
The expectation is that the squall line will pivot slowly eastward
although some faster progression has been noted. Details on the
mesoscale environment can be found in Mesoscale Precipitation
Discussion 632.
Over the Southern Plains...maintained a Marginal risk over Texas
into Louisiana and a portion of Mississippi where flow remained
weak in a moisture-laden atmosphere. Daytime convection should
gradually diminish across the eastern portion area...though a weak
mid level disturbance across the northern portion of Texas may be
able to continue supporting cells with locally intense rates into
the overnight hours.
Bann
...Mid-Atlantic and Southeast...
16Z Update: The general synoptic pattern remains consistent with
the expectation for scattered to widespread convective coverage
later this afternoon and evening with heavy rain likely over the
I-95 corridor from the NC Triangle up through Philadelphia and
surround suburbs in the region. The previous MDT risk was expanded
along the southern edge into the Piedmont of NC with an overlap of
the lowest FFG's thanks to compromised soils due to impacts from
Tropical Storm Chantal. Another extension was made on the northern
side of the MDT up through the DC/Balt area into portions of the
Philadelphia metro. All of the upgrades into the metros were
coordination with the local WFO's, in agreement for locally
significant flash flooding possible within the areas referenced
above.
Shortwave analyzed over the Central Ohio Valley will continue its
progression eastward through the period with increasing shear and
large scale ascent within the diffluent area downstream of the
trough axis. Across the Mid Atlantic, atmosphere is becoming
increasingly buoyant due to prime solar insolation factors as
visible satellite was indicating full sun with scattered low-level
cu starting to materialize from the NC Piedmont up through the
Delmarva and Southeast PA. This is exactly the area where guidance
has forecast the general instability maxima with the mean MUCAPE
from the 12z HREF positioning a swath of 2500-4000 J/kg through the
aforementioned zone. This will coincide with increased 0-6km bulk
shear thanks to the closer proxy of the trough, leading to
organized multi-cell clusters and eventual conglomeration as it
migrates eastward from Blue Ridge to east of the Fall line. 12z
HREF neighborhood probabilities are basically maxed out (>90%) for
at least 2" spanning from far Southeast PA down through the DC/Balt
Metropolitan areas into Southern VA within the confines of I-95.
Secondary and tertiary reflections of >90% probs for the same
characteristic exist near RNK into portions of the NC Piedmont, a
testament to a primed thermodynamic environment and improving
kinematic field with the approach of the shortwave.
Looking closer at rates, the prospects for 2-3"/hr are highest
across Southwest VA and points northeast, likely reflective in the
better shear for organized updraft capabilities coinciding with the
areal instability max centered over the Southern Shenandoah through
the Richmond to Philadelphia megalopolis. Intra-hour rates >3" are
certainly plausible within the same areas considering PWATs
reaching above the 90th percentile climo with a deep warm cloud
layer between 14-15k ft, a signal for efficient warm rain processes
embedded within the expected convective schema. Overall, this is a
fairly robust setup that could easily cause issues within the
entire Mid Atlantic, even outside the MDT in the SLGT as the
environment is conducive for locally enhanced convection as far
west as WV and Eastern KY, and as far south as the Low Country of
SC/GA where a presence of a TUTT will help to maintain a focused
ascent pattern away from what is occurring to the north.
In recap; the MDT has been expanded on the northern and southern
flank with a small extension westward to include areas of the
Southern Shenandoah. This is in agreement with the 12z CAMs suite,
as well as aligning with the outlined higher impact zone within the
latest ECMWF AIFS ML output with the center of greatest impacts
over the DMV. SLGT risk remains in place over portions of the
interior Mid Atlantic, Eastern Ohio Valley, and Southeastern U.S,
away from the immediate coastal plain.
Kleebauer
..Previous Discussion..
An anomalously moist and conditionally unstable air mass remains
entrenched across much of the eastern third of the CONUS, as a
pronounced mid-level trough extending from the Great Lakes to the
Mid-South gradually translates eastward. Height falls and DPVA from
this trough (along with increasing 0-6km bulk shear and enhanced
upper divergence from the favorable placement of a right-entrance
region of ~100 kt jet streak over New England) will coincide with
peak daytime heating and steep low-level lapse rates, eventually
resulting in widespread convective activity this afternoon across
much of the Mid-Atlantic (focused within the terrain and along the
leeward trough of the Appalachians) and into the Southeast (where a
TUTT cell is also playing a role, as some convection is already
ongoing early this morning in portions of southern GA and northern
FL). While much of the Southeast has been rather dry over the past
3-7 days, some portions of the Mid-Atlantic remain quite saturated
from prior days rainfall (and particularly from heavy rainfall in
association with Tropical Storm Chantal, which resulted in an area
of 4-10" of rainfall across central NC into south-central VA). A
Moderate risk was introduced with this forecast cycle for a
targeted portion VA (where flash flood warnings are even still in
effect at the time of writing from continuing convection
overnight), and this area represents the best overlap of
anticipated convective organization coinciding with vulnerable
antecedent conditions (as storms may be less organized farther
south where the bulk of rainfall occurred with Chantal, and
residence time may be too short farther north where stronger
dynamics will support the forward propagation of convection).
While the new Moderate risk area represents where more numerous
flash flood impacts are most likely to occur (with 00z HREF
neighborhood probabilities for FFG exceedance as high as 40-50%),
the Slight risk area has also been expanded fairly significantly to
encompass a large area from the Southeast (eastern GA into central
SC) into nearly all of the Mid-Atlantic (including the bulk of the
southern and central Appalachians) as PWs of 2.0"+ (near or above
the 90th percentile for much of the region) will allow for highly
efficient rainfall rates (with wet-bulb zero heights of 13-14k feet
allow warm rain processes to dominate) with localized totals of
1-3"/hr. Where these types of rates train/repeat, localized totals
of 2-5" are likely to occur (with the highest coverage of these
totals expected in and around the Moderate risk area). The threat
looks to be concentrated with peak daytime heating, mainly from
21-03z this afternoon and evening.
Churchill
...Central Texas through the Southern Ohio Valley...
16Z Update: 12z CAMs continue to point to widely scattered
convection across Central TX with locally heavy rainfall with rates
between 1-3"/hr likely in any development. The best threat remains
aligned from west to east over the Edwards Plateau to points east
with the highest probabilities >2" situated over the I-35 corridor
and surrounding zones. This will be fairly close to the areas that
received significant rainfall over the holiday weekend, so will
monitor closely, but the setup is not anticipated to provide
anything of that magnitude given a lack of shear and prominent
low-level convergence. The MRGL risk was sufficient after
assessment with the best chance for flash flooding across those
areas referenced above.
Kleebauer
..Previous Discussion..
As the aforementioned mid-level trough crosses the OH Valley this
morning, a convective risk will be maintained for much of the day
from the Mid-South through the TN/OH Valley with elevated moisture
and increasing low-level lapse rates and instability from daytime
heating. Farther southwest into the Ark-La-Tex and central TX,
vorticity streamers from the trough are being shunted southwestward
(gradually rounding the persistent upper ridge over the Southwest)
and may help to locally organize convective activity. Elevated PWs
(generally between the 75th and 90th percentile) along with strong
daytime heating will result in generally scattered convection with
still efficient rainfall rates (up to 1-3"/hr) but limited coverage
and residence time resulting in isolated/localized totals of 2-4".
The Marginal risk was maintained and adjusted based on the new
guidance in this region.
Churchill
...Central Plains into Mid-Mississippi Valley...
The shortwave anticipated to round the northern edge of the ridge
positioned across the Southwest U.S is currently situated over WY
with a steady progression eastward through the morning. The
previous forecast adjusted a bit further north as consensus on
orientation of greatest convective threat was shifted about 100-150
miles north from last nights presentation. Surprising to see this
type of fluctuation at short lead, but it seems like that was the
consensus with the best threat of organized convection forming over
SD, migrating southeast along the northeast flank of the ridge.
Guidance is still 50/50 on a MCS developing which is where any
flash flooding concern becomes most prominent. Modest signal from
the HREF >2" neighborhood probs (25-45%) and >3" (10-25%) exist
from SD down through Eastern NE and Northwest IA. This is where the
new MRGL risk is located after the adjustment. Threat remains on
the low-end of the risk threshold.
Kleebauer
Day 1 threat area:
www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/94epoints.txt
Excessive Rainfall Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
156 AM EDT Thu Jul 10 2025
Day 1
Valid 0553Z Thu Jul 10 2025 - 12Z Fri Jul 11 2025
...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF EXCESSIVE RAINFALL FOR PORTIONS OF
SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND...
Special update based on radar trends and new 00z CAM guidance to
introduce a SLGT risk for portions of southern New England. See
upcoming MPD #633 for more detailed information.
Elsewhere, maintained MRGL risk areas for where some lingering
rainfall is still ongoing across portions of the Mid-Atlantic
(though convection continues to rapidly wane). The MRGL in place
for portions of the Central/Northern Plains was shifted east a bit
based on observational trends.
Churchill
Day 1 threat area:
www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/94epoints.txt
Excessive Rainfall Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
156 AM EDT Thu Jul 10 2025
Day 2
Valid 12Z Fri Jul 11 2025 - 12Z Sat Jul 12 2025
...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF EXCESSIVE RAINFALL FOR PORTIONS OF THE
MID ATLANTIC AND SOUTHEAST...
...Mid Atlantic and Southeast...
20Z Update: Conditionally unstable airmass will remain situated
across the Eastern Seaboard with a general instability maxima and
deep moist layer situated over the Southern Mid Atlantic through
SC/GA. A lee trough over the Piedmont of VA down through SC will
align with a formidable theta_E axis outlining an area of focus for
diurnally driven convection as we break into Thursday afternoon.
Forcing will be weak in the grand scheme, so the loss of sufficient
kinematics will mute the threat compared to Wednesday, but a
fairly buoyant environment and strong diurnal heat flux will remedy
the lack of large scale forcing and initiate a scattered to
widespread convective regime mostly driven via thermodynamic
processes and focused convergence within the lee trough center. 12z
HREF blended mean QPF depicted a smattering of maxima with 2-4"
signals extending over Eastern GA up through the Carolina Piedmont
into VA. Northern periphery of the best convective threat aligns
with the Potomac Basin as drier above 600mb advects through the
Central Mid Atlantic curbing some of the greater potential as you
move into MD/PA, so the prospects of heavier rainfall will lie
south of the shifting environment. Maintain general continuity from
previous SLGT issuance, but extended the SLGT further south and
west to account for the favorable convective regime through the
period with stronger convective cores still capable of local
2-3"/hr rates causing concern within any compromised areas from
prior periods, and urbanized settings where run off capabilities
are highest.
Kleebauer
...Northern and Central Plains into the Upper Midwest...
20Z Update: The synoptic evolution over the Plains and Midwest is
still very much advertised for late-Thursday afternoon through
early Friday morning with a likely organized convective window
transpiring downstream of an approaching shortwave trough.
Strongest signal within the CAMs remains parked over IA with some
expansion westward into Eastern NE where the organized multi-cell
pattern will likely occur after cells initiate upstream across the
Sandhills and High Plains of NE. 12z HREF EAS is actually
relatively robust across Central IA where CAMs are in excellent
agreement on a regional maxima positioned near Des Moines overnight
Thursday into Friday. This is coincident with the progression of
nocturnal complex expected to materialize over NE with the mean
flow likely to orient the complex on a west to east trajectory
near/over I-80. LLJ introduction will aid in supplemental low-level
moisture advection maintaining suitable MCS maintenance for a time
before the system collapses as it exits IA into IL. Pending forward
propagation speed, it's plausible the complex can reach North-
Central IL by the time the period ends with some remnant heavy rain
cores moving into the I-39 corridor. This potential evolution has
merit within the 12z EC AIFS Ensemble with a low-end prob for
heavier QPF output to the west of the Chicago metro. In this case,
the previous SLGT risk was modified a bit more to the east to cover
for higher probabilities for >2 and >3" outputs via the HREF and to
account for the AIFS ensemble depiction which has a pretty solid
track record with handling convectively driven disturbances inside
48hrs.
Kleebauer
..Previous Discussion..
By Thursday the persistent ridge aloft over the Southwest U.S.
begins to break down, as an upper-low off the northern CA coast
opens up into a shortwave trough on Wednesday and ejects eastward
ahead of a digging longwave trough over western Canada. These two
features look to interact over the Northern and Central Plains, but
there are still substantial differences between models in how
these features evolve and interact. PWs of 1.5"+ are expected
(near the 90th percentile for the region) with ample instability
and dynamics for organized convection and subsequent high rainfall
rates (as this shortwave trough looks much more potent relative to
the expected shortwave on Day 1). Maintained an inherited Slight
risk area that was adjusted based on the new consensus guidance.
Churchill
Day 2 threat area:
www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/98epoints.txt
Excessive Rainfall Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
156 AM EDT Thu Jul 10 2025
Day 3
Valid 12Z Sat Jul 12 2025 - 12Z Sun Jul 13 2025
...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF EXCESSIVE RAINFALL OVER PORTIONS OF
THE MIDWEST...
...Midwest into Mid-Mississippi Valley...
20Z Update: Secondary vorticity maxima migrating through a
relatively low amplitude portion of the mid-level regime will eject
eastward in a similar path to the previous disturbance, only this
time encountering a more suitable environment with a deeper IVT
pulse being advected poleward ahead of the mean trough. A stronger
shortwave will also be digging south of out Canada allowing for a
better meridional push of deep layer moisture into the Upper
Midwest while also creating a more defined RER jet dynamic thanks
to a strengthening 250mb jet streak ~110kts positioned over the
Dakotas to Northern MN. Models have come into agreement on a west-
southwest to east-northeast oriented heavy convection regime with
some multi-cellular organization likely given increasing shear and
large scale forcing instigating the pattern. Totals between 2-4"
are being forecast already within the global deterministic with the
ensemble mean QPF firmly between 1-2" over a large area
encompassing Eastern NE, much of IA, Southern MN, and Western WI.
This correlates well with the forecast alignment of the stronger
IVT advection being pumped into the area due to the increasing
meridional state of the synoptic field. This setup has a pretty
robust indication via ML output as well, so the confidence has
grown enough to warrant a broad SLGT as the threat could be in
overlap of some hard hit areas the period prior. This will be an
evolving threat and the positioning of the risk could change in the
coming days, but wanted to align with consensus on initial
thinking.
Further south, a bit more complexity in the potential with less
agreement within the deterministic suite on potential heavy
convection across portions of MO/IL to the south of the pattern
evolving over the Midwest. Instability will be suitable overall,
but could be missing some elements to help push this threat to a
higher risk. Still, a fairly robust PWAT forecast and solid
thermodynamic structure should provide some modest risk for
isolated flash flooding, at a minimum. Maintained continuity of a
MRGL in the area to account for the potential and will be monitored
for targeted upgrade opportunities if the signal increases in
magnitude and/or coverage.
Kleebauer
...Mid-Atlantic and Southeast...
20Z Update: No changes necessary to the previous forecast as the
pattern remains favorable for isolated heavy rainfall across much
of the Southeast into the Southern Mid Atlantic.
Kleebauer
..Previous Discussion..
As mid-level troughing becomes more established in the Northern
Plains into Day 3, ridging builds in response downstream and may
finally begin to suppress convection more significantly across the
northern Mid-Atlantic into the Northeast. While there are no clear
signs of significant convective organization at this juncture into
the Southeast and southern Mid-Atlantic, convective initiation with
scattered convection and locally high rainfall rates appears likely
(where ridging will be insufficient to fully suppress convection).
Churchill
...Rockies into the Central and Southern High Plains...
20Z Update: A slightly better signal is being depicted across the
Front Range on Friday with a chance for a stronger convective
complex to initiate off the WY/CO Front Range and migrate east-
southeast along as the 850-300mb mean flow orients out of the
west-northwest in-lieu of a digging trough dropping out of Canada
to the north. A cold front trailing a surface low maturation over
the Central Plains would only entice a focal area for not only
heavy rainfall, but increasing prospects for back-building and
training behind any complex. The environment for locally enhanced
rainfall from any diurnally driven convection within a narrow lee
trough across the Southern High Plains and anticipated cold front
approach from the north will also lead to isolated flash flood
prospects from Southwest KS down into the Upper Trans Pecos. This
threat is on the lower end of the MRGL threshold, but still has
credence when assessing the overall environment. The MRGL will
remain in place from previous forecast, but will be keeping an eye
on perhaps a targeted upgrade in-of the migrating complex
anticipated off the Front Range.
Kleebauer
..Previous Discussion..
As the Southwest ridge continues to break down for a second day,
the global guidance signal for more substantial convective
initiation within the terrain of the Rockies increases into Friday
(and particularly so farther north into the northern/central
Rockies of WY/CO). Localized 1-2" totals (as indicated by both
downscaled deterministic GFS/ECMWF solutions and ensemble 1"
exceedance probabilities) in the sensitive terrain may lead to
localized flash flooding concerns, and more substantial convective
organization in association with shortwaves/vorticity maxima
rounding the ridge and coming off the terrain may allow for more
organized convection into the evening/overnight in the Central and
Southern High Plains.
Churchill
Day 3 threat area:
www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/99epoints.txt
Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
249 AM EDT Thu Jul 10 2025
Over the weekend a frontal system will advance through the Midwest
and trail across the Central/Southern Plains while convection fires
up ahead of it where moisture and instability pool. There will be a
broad area where isolated flash flooding may arise, particularly
centered over Oklahoma and surrounding areas, where an MCS is
likely to develop and train. A broad Marginal Risk was maintained
for Day 4 and stretches from New Mexico northeastward to Upstate
New York. Similar conditions are expected for Day 5 only shifted a
bit further east. A small Marginal Risk area was raised for Day 5
in New Mexico to cover sensitive burn scars there.
Abundant moisture will be feeding into Florida thank to the broad
subtropical ridge. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop
with the ample instability underneath the ridge and may lead to
flash ponding/flooding for coastal and urban locations across the
peninsula. A Marginal Risk was maintained for Day 4 and raised for
Day 5. Convection may increase in the southeastern states by
Tuesday as a front moves closer.
A second frontal system is anticipated to enter the north-central
states near the beginning of the week and will be usher in the
next round of rain with it. Details in placement and amounts will
vary depending on the eventual evolution of the trough and remain
uncertain at this time. Given the recent rains across parts of the
Dakotas and Minnesota, soils require less moisture before rain
becomes excessive. A Marginal Risk area is in effect for this part
of the country for Day 5.
Hot weather will remain for much of the western U.S. as upper
ridging mostly sets up to the west of rounds of troughing. Daily
maximums will be above normal with many locations climbing into
the
100s and 110s for the Desert Southwest, and nearing/exceeding 100F
farther north in interior/lower elevation areas of the Great
Basin. Temperatures could be a few degrees cooler than average
especially for highs for the south- central U.S. this weekend as
clouds and rain hold temperatures down. The Southeast should be
near normal to a few degrees above, for typical summer heat and
humidity. Temperatures will generally be 5-10 degrees above normal
in the Great Lakes to Northeast. Into next week, depending on the
evolution of the north- central U.S. trough, temperatures may cool
notably, with highs perhaps only in the 70s through the north-
central Plains for Tuesday/Wednesday.
Campbell/Tate
Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
249 AM EDT Thu Jul 10 2025
Over the weekend a frontal system will advance through the Midwest
and trail across the Central/Southern Plains while convection fires
up ahead of it where moisture and instability pool. There will be a
broad area where isolated flash flooding may arise, particularly
centered over Oklahoma and surrounding areas, where an MCS is
likely to develop and train. A broad Marginal Risk was maintained
for Day 4 and stretches from New Mexico northeastward to Upstate
New York. Similar conditions are expected for Day 5 only shifted a
bit further east. A small Marginal Risk area was raised for Day 5
in New Mexico to cover sensitive burn scars there.
Abundant moisture will be feeding into Florida thank to the broad
subtropical ridge. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop
with the ample instability underneath the ridge and may lead to
flash ponding/flooding for coastal and urban locations across the
peninsula. A Marginal Risk was maintained for Day 4 and raised for
Day 5. Convection may increase in the southeastern states by
Tuesday as a front moves closer.
A second frontal system is anticipated to enter the north-central
states near the beginning of the week and will be usher in the
next round of rain with it. Details in placement and amounts will
vary depending on the eventual evolution of the trough and remain
uncertain at this time. Given the recent rains across parts of the
Dakotas and Minnesota, soils require less moisture before rain
becomes excessive. A Marginal Risk area is in effect for this part
of the country for Day 5.
Hot weather will remain for much of the western U.S. as upper
ridging mostly sets up to the west of rounds of troughing. Daily
maximums will be above normal with many locations climbing into
the
100s and 110s for the Desert Southwest, and nearing/exceeding 100F
farther north in interior/lower elevation areas of the Great
Basin. Temperatures could be a few degrees cooler than average
especially for highs for the south- central U.S. this weekend as
clouds and rain hold temperatures down. The Southeast should be
near normal to a few degrees above, for typical summer heat and
humidity. Temperatures will generally be 5-10 degrees above normal
in the Great Lakes to Northeast. Into next week, depending on the
evolution of the north- central U.S. trough, temperatures may cool
notably, with highs perhaps only in the 70s through the north-
central Plains for Tuesday/Wednesday.
Campbell/Tate
