Northeast facing flood threats this week due to unusual weather pattern

A rather unusual weather pattern for early May is setting up across the US, and forecasters warn that it will lead to a stagnant pattern with prolonged periods of warmth in some areas and steady rain in others.The pattern, known as the “Omega block,” is named after the Greek letter Ω and disrupts the usual zonal flow of weather systems.As a result, two distinct regions of precipitation are expected to dominate the workweek: one stretching from the Southwest to the southern Plains and Gulf Coast, with another impacting the Northeast and mid-Atlantic.“Plenty of moisture will be underneath those lows,” FOX Weather Meteorologist Jane Minar said.“It’s a slow-moving pattern that will kind of keep us locked in place with rain.”Computer forecast models indicate a widespread 3-6 inches of rainfall across the South, with isolated areas possibly receiving even more. The rain may also be accompanied by strong thunderstorms, some of which could reach severe levels.Cities such as New Orleans; Jackson, Mississippi; and Alexandria, Louisiana, are either in or near the bull’s-eye for where the heaviest precipitation is expected to fall in the week ahead.Some communities in the region are especially vulnerable, as many have already experienced torrential rainfall in recent weeks.The FOX Forecast Center warned that saturated ground and elevated river levels will increase the risk of flooding, especially in low-lying or poorly drained areas.According to NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center (WPC), the highest flood risk is expected from Tuesday evening through early Wednesday, when more than 35 million people across the southern US will be under Level 2 to Level 3 flash flood threats on the WPC’s 4-point risk scale.In contrast, the Northeast stands to benefit from the incoming precipitation.

Computer forecast models predict 1-3 inches of rain across the Interstate 95 corridor, with locally higher amounts of up to 5 inches possible in portions of N...