Weather: Heavy rain, flood risk, and a cold front pose a threat
The National Weather Service is warning of heavy rainfall in Texas and other parts of the Great Plains, while a cold air mass will cause a sharp drop in temperatures and possible frost over the weekend.
Rain in Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY - Reference Image
On Thursday, October 15, the country faces a weather picture of stark contrasts, with torrential rains, a risk of flash flooding, and snowfall in mountainous areas, while a cold front is set to displace the unseasonably warm weather affecting much of the central and eastern parts of the country.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a warning about heavy rainfall in parts of the southern Great Plains, especially in Texas and Oklahoma, where storms could cause flash flooding.
According to Univision, some areas could receive between two and four inches of rain (between 50 and 100 millimeters) over a 48-hour period.
The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has placed parts of West Texas under a moderate risk of excessive rainfall for Thursday, equivalent to level 3 out of 4 on its scale.
The areas of greatest concern include regions near Big Bend, the Stockton Plateau, the Pecos River Valley, and areas near Interstate 10, where persistent rain could lead to rising water levels and flooding.
A cold front will cause a sharp drop in temperatures
While storms are affecting the south, more than 20 states in the central and eastern parts of the country are experiencing temperatures above the usual October averages.
According to MundoNOW, citing forecasts from FOX Weather, some areas of the Midwest could see temperatures between 80 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit (27 and 32 °C), while parts of the South could exceed 95 °F (35 °C).
However, this pattern will begin to change starting Friday, October 16, when a cold air mass from Canada moves into the Great Plains and the Midwest.
The front could cause temperature drops of up to 40 °F—equivalent to a change of approximately 22 °C—in certain locations. Some cities that are seeing temperatures near 80 °F this Thursday could experience highs of just 40 to 50 °F (between 4 and 10 °C) the following day.
The change is also expected to reach parts of the Northeast over the weekend, with temperatures near or below freezing in inland areas of Pennsylvania, New York, and northern New England.
Snowfall in the Rocky Mountains
Winter conditions are also beginning to set in across the western part of the country. The WPC forecasts additional snowfall at higher elevations in Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming.
In some mountainous areas, up to 12 inches of snow (about 30 centimeters) could accumulate, especially in parts of northern Colorado and the Uinta Mountains in Utah.
The precipitation could affect mountain passes and high-altitude highways, including sections of Interstate 70 in Colorado.
The weather service noted that the heaviest accumulations will be concentrated in high-elevation areas and do not represent widespread snowfall across the entire region.
Possible freezing temperatures over the weekend
These conditions increase the risk of frost, especially for crops and vegetation sensitive to low temperatures. However, the intensity of the cold snap will depend on location and the speed at which the front moves.
Weather authorities recommend that the public stay informed about local alerts, avoid driving on flooded roads, and take precautions against sudden temperature changes.
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