Excessive Rainfall Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
215 AM EST Thu Jan 8 2026
Day 2
Valid 12Z Fri Jan 09 2026 - 12Z Sat Jan 10 2026

..THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF EXCESSIVE RAINFALL ACROSS PORTIONS OF
THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AND DEEP SOUTH...

Lower Mississippi Valley/Southern Appalachians...
A positively tilted trough with minimal eastward progression due to
the parent cyclone's progression northeast will generate a broad
axis of ascent from the Mississippi Valley to points eastward with
a cold frontal progression slowly migrating east. An anomalously
moisture plume ahead of the trough, noteworthy for January and near
summer averages with a range of 1.50-1.75", will be accompanied by
500-1500 J/kg of MU CAPE. Ample shear for convective organization
is expected, with low- level convergence more or less fixed from
the Atchafalya Basin in LA into the southern Appalachians. The
guidance is wet, with local 4-7" totals forecast locally. The
guidance has shifted southwest,. which caused a southwest shift in
the risk areas.

This synoptic setup is classic for a flash flood prospect across
this region. Deep layer southwest flow should lead to cell
training, and enough effective bulk shear exists for mesocyclone
formation. Hourly rain amounts up to 2.5" are possible here, which
would overwhelm urban environments. The 00z HREF for the first half
of the period advertised a 30-35% of 5"+ near Laurel MS, which if
it occurred within a few hours would overwhelm non-urban
environments as well. At the moment, this appears to be a high end
Slight Risk, but it wouldn't be surprising if a Moderate Risk
was considered as we get further inside the mesoscale guidance
window. The eastern bounds of the Marginal Risk area were
coordinated with the RNK/Blacksburg VA, GSP/Greer SC, and
FFC/Peachtree City GA forecast offices.

Roth


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