Many communities across the central United States enduring drought conditions will receive much-needed rain this coming week, though flooding may become a concern.
"A rainy pattern looks to set up across the middle Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley this coming week into next weekend," AccuWeather Storm Warning Meteorologist Joseph Bauer said.
"For drought-ridden areas in Missouri, this rain should come as a welcome relief to an overall dry summer so far," he said.
In Kansas City, only 13 percent of August's normal rainfall has arrived so far. In nearby St. Joseph, only 6 percent of the normal monthly rainfall has occurred.
While the incoming wet weather is needed, there are potentially dangerous side effects as well.
"These rains will not bring widespread flooding, but more localized areas of flooding could be a threat," Bauer said.
The area of heaviest rain will extend from the south-central Plains early in the week up into the Midwest by the end of it, sitting over any given location for a few days at a time.
In Oklahoma City, the wet weather from the weekend is expected to continue through Tuesday. Residents of Kansas City should start carrying their umbrellas on Monday.
Cities such as St. Louis, Chicago and Milwaukee, Wisc. will notice more wet weather moving in for Tuesday and Wednesday.
The unsettled weather will allow a flooding downpour on any of the next few days, so residents should be prepared for flooding rainfall to occur any day through the middle of the week.
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Flooding is most likely to occur in low-lying and poor-drainage areas, where the dry ground or pavement cannot efficiently absorb rain from heavy downpours.
It will be important for motorists to avoid driving through these areas, as it is impossible to tell how deep the water is or if the road underneath has been washed out.
"This rainy pattern looks to hold through late August, as another system could potentially bring widespread rainfall to similar areas after next weekend," Bauer said.
For the latest on the location of downpours and the risk of flooding in your area, download the free AccuWeather app.
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