A thick layer of moisture moving north from the Gulf of Mexico is causing severe weather across a wide area of the Southern United States. On Sunday, this storm system brought heavy rains and the risk of tornadoes, with more rain expected through Memorial Day.
This bad weather arrives just as a record number of Americans prepare to travel for the holiday weekend. The rain has already affected some travelers. For example, the start of Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 race was delayed by about 40 minutes due to light rain.
The National Weather Service reports that a large, mostly stationary weather front stretches from the Southeast through the Southern Plains and Central Rockies. This front is expected to stay in place until Tuesday. The weather service warns of numerous flash flooding events. Many streams and rivers, especially in the Southern Plains and the Lower Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys, could overflow, creating dangerous flood conditions.
