Excessive Rainfall Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
840 AM EDT Wed Jul 2 2025

Day 1
Valid 1236Z Wed Jul 02 2025 - 12Z Thu Jul 03 2025

...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF EXCESSIVE RAINFALL ACROSS PORTIONS OF
SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA AND NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA, WESTERN FLORIDA
PENINSULA, AND THE SOUTHWESTERN U.S...

1240Z Update: Models are struggling to handle the vast expanse of
convection following the eastern flank of the ULL progression off
the CA coast. Scattered showers/thunderstorms will continue on a
south to north progression with some training within the confines
of Southeastern CA up through the Southern third of NV leading to
isolated flash flood concerns over the region. The previous MRGL
was expanded further west to account for the threat this morning
and afternoon. For more information on this setup, please see MPD
#0571.

Kleebauer

...Lower Mid Atlantic and Southeast...

Longwave upper trough and embedded shortwave energy will push
slowly eastward today, finally pushing off the Mid Atlantic coast
this evening. At the surface, the associated cold front will too
exhibit gradual eastward progression, likely not pushing off the
coast until sometime Thursday. The very favorable deep-layer
thermodynamic environment ahead of the upper trough/surface front
will be characterized by PWATs between 2.2-2.4" (~2 standard
deviations above normal) along with MUCAPEs of 1000-2000 J/Kg.
Based on the 00Z guidance and trends, only minor adjustments were
made to the Slight Risk area across eastern NC and southeast VA.
00Z HREF neighborhood probs for >3" were still running between
70-90% over the Slight Risk area, with >5" probs peaking between
40-50%.

Scattered heavy convection will also be forecast away from the
above area with the main threat likely more urbanized flash flood
concerns within any heavier cells as the environment is ripe for
locally heavy rainfall from the Central Gulf coast to points north
and northeast.

...Southwest...

Modest eastward expansion across southeast NM and West TX was made
to the Slight Risk area inherited from yesterday's Day 2 ERO. This
based on the latest guidance trends; not just with the bump in
deterministic QPF (especially ensemble of CAMs), but also with the
rise in QPF exceedance probabilities per both latest HREF and RRFS.
Synoptic progression across the Southwestern CONUS coupled with a
deep, moist advection pattern further inland from the southeast
will lead to widespread convective development across West TX,
extending westward through the terrain of NM and AZ. A stagnant
upper trough/ULL slowly migrate across far southern CA later today
and Wed night. This will push the region of favorable upper level
diffluence/large scale ascent to much of the Desert Southwest east
of the Colorado river basin. Presence of monsoonal moisture will be
amplified moving into Wednesday as the amplified flow from the
approaching trough and ridge positioning over the Four Corners will
create the textbook funneling affect of deeper moisture poleward
through West TX to points north and northwest.

PWAT anomalies between 2-3 standard deviations above normal are
again noted across West TX into southern and central NM-AZ, which
with MUCAPEs between 1000-2000+ J/Kg, will create a generally
buoyant environment over the aforementioned areas. The expectation
is for scattered heavy convective cores capable of hourly rates
approaching 1"/hr with generally slow cell motions leading to some
training concerns across the terrain. 00Z HREF 24hr ARI exceedance
probabilities for exceeding 10yr intervals peak between 40-70%
across southern MN, with even spotty 10-30% probs of exceeding
the 100yr ARI, a testament to the expected magnitude of precip
falling during the period. Locally 2-3+" of rainfall within the
area is plenty to cause significant flash flood issues in any one
area across the Sacramento's through the terrain west and
northwest.

...Western Florida Coast...

Based on the 00Z guidance/trends, have expanded the Slight Risk
area a bit southward along the west coast of FL, towards the Punta
Gorda area. The combination of a slow-moving frontal progression
and potential for weak surface reflection over the Eastern Gulf
will create a period of unsettled weather in-of the Western FL
Peninsula. The prospects for heavy rainfall capable of widespread
flash flood concerns is still on the lower end with the best threat
relegated to the urban zones along the coast with the best threat
likely over western Pasco and Hillsborough counties, along with
Pinellas county where the Tampa metro is the center of where the
threat lies.

Based on the latest HREF 24hr QPF probabilities -- i.e. widespread
70-90%+ probs of at least 3 inches, pocket of 50-70% of at least
5" along the coast from Tampa Bay northward, and a small area of
35-30% probs of exceeding 8" -- anticipate widespread 3-5" within
the Slight Risk area with localized totals of 8+ inches. 2.2-2.4"+
PWATs along with a destabilized airmass off the Gulf will generate
highly efficient short term rainfall rates, likely pushing 3+
inch/hr within the stronger cells.

Hurley/Kleebauer


Day 2
Valid 12Z Thu Jul 03 2025 - 12Z Fri Jul 04 2025

...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF EXCESSIVE RAINFALL ACROSS WESTERN
PORTIONS OF THE FLORIDA PENINSULA...

...Florida and Georgia...

Subtle changes were made to the Slight and Marginal Risk areas
inherited from yesterday's Day 3 ERO. Southern periphery of the
longwave upper trough crosses the area Thu-Thu night, with the
guidance showing embedded shortwaves (possibly convectively-
enhanced) reaching South FL toward the end of the period (Thursday
night). Ahead of the nearly stationary surface front, onshore west
to southwest low-level inflow from the eastern Gulf will likely
lead to a more focused area of low-level moisture transport/flux
convergence over much of the west coast of FL, especially north of
Ft. Myers to include the Tampa-St. Pete area, where 0-6km bulk
shear values do approach 25 kts (allowing for more
organized/widespread convective clusters). The RRFS is most
particularly robust with the QPF within the Slight Risk area (areas
of 3-6+ inches), which considering the thermodynamic
environment/deep subtropical moisture (TPW values 2.25 to 2.50"),
is certainly plausible. Especially considering the onshore low-
level inflow will likely exceed (perhaps double) the mean 850-300
mb wind), enhancing the potential for cell training. Even with a
more limited (tall/skinny) CAPE profile, sub-hourly rainfall rates
again of of 2.5-3.0+ inches within this environment will be
possible underneath the strongest cells, especially within the
Slight Risk area.

...Southern Plains to Southwest...

Continued deep moist advective pattern will lead to scattered or
even widespread thunderstorm activity over much of West TX up
through the Central Rockies as the upstream synoptic evolution of
the ejecting trough will create a pretty robust large scale ascent
signature across much of the CONUS west of the 100W marker. Still
some discrepancy on the eastern expansion of the heavier convective
threat with some guidance inferring the Concho Valley, others the
Permian Basin and Trans Pecos, and others as far west as Southwest
TX. Too much spread in the deterministic with the ensemble means
relatively modest in magnitude. As we move into CAMs range, expect
the signal to ramp up in the magnitude with a more defined axis of
heavy precip likely to allow for a targeted SLGT risk. Areas within
the Central Rockies will be evaluated in the coming days as well
with the core of the shortwave energy ejecting out of the
Southwest likely to motion overhead. This could be a target for
heavy rain prospects along the Southern Laramie Range down through
the Foothills of CO Rockies with some guidance depicting 2-3" of
rainfall in the period, something that could also spur an upgrade
in the risk with the environment in place. For now, a broad MRGL
risk encompasses much of the Southwest, Southern Plains, and
Central Rockies.

Hurley/Kleebauer


Day 3
Valid 12Z Fri Jul 04 2025 - 12Z Sat Jul 05 2025

...THERE ARE MARGINAL RISKS OF EXCESSIVE RAINFALL ACROSS PARTS OF
THE NORTHERN ROCKIES, NORTHERN AND CENTRAL PLAINS, UPPER
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY, AND THE FLORIDA PENINSULA...

...Florida Peninsula...

Lingering upper level shortwave energy along with a surface
reflection (surface low along west coast and associated frontal
boundaries) will again maintain a favorable environment for more
organized (widespread) convection, particularly during peak
diurnal heating. Not surprising given the lead time (day 3
forecast), spread with the current model QPFs is fairly high. As a
result, have maintained the Marginal Risk area inherited from
yesterday's Day 4 ERO, as the favorable thermodynamic environment
will support at least localized instances of flash flooding per the
isolated 24hr maxima of 4-7+ inches per the 00Z Regional GEM and
RRFS.

...Idaho into Montana and Northwest Wyoming...

Have hoisted a fairly broad Marginal Risk area across much of ID
and MT along with northwest WY based on the converging guidance
trends (QPF especially). Models show the longwave upper trough and
embedded shortwave energy becoming more negatively tilted as the
trough pivots across the Northwestern CONUS. Robust QG forcing is
noted as a result, with the deep-layer lift coinciding with a
favorable thermodynamic environment (PWATs 1-2 standard deviations
above normal and MUCAPEs ~500-1000 J/Kg would favor areas of
locally heavy rainfall, up to 3-4" per the CMC and 1.5-3" per the
ECMWF, GFS, and NAM. Given the terrain considerations and flashy
runoff and streamflow response within this region, have for now
hoisted a Marginal Risk area in anticipation of an isolated flash
flood threat.


...Eastern Portions of the Missouri Valley into the Upper
Midwest...

Expanded the Marginal Risk area from yesterday's Day 4 ERO to
include parts of eastern NE and northern KS. Deep-layer QG forcing
becomes more favorable by late Fri as the upper trough axis pushes
east. Meanwhile, SSW to SW LLJ will increase to 30-40 kts at 850 mb
Fri night, aligning parallel to and approaching the same magnitude
of the mean 850-300 mb wind. This results in a diminishment of the
Corfidi Vectors by Fri night, eventually becoming northerly and
opposing the low-level inflow. Given the degree of upwind
propagation expected, cell mergers and training will become more
likely by Fri night ahead of the approaching surface boundary.
However, the big uncertainty will be the degree of elevated deep-
layer destabilization, as at least for now much of the global
guidance is not overly bullish (MUCAPEs generally <1000 J/Kg north
of KS-southern NE). Given this along with the considerable spread
in model QPFs, for now have maintained a Marginal Risk ERO.

Hurley

Day 1 threat area: www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/94epoints.txt
Day 2 threat area: www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/98epoints.txt
Day 3 threat area: www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/99epoints.txt