Periods of torrential rainfall will continue to drench parts of the nation’s heartland over the next couple of days. Carriers and shippers alike should expect some minor delays as drivers deal with slowdowns and potential road closures.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has already reported areas of flash flooding from just south of Oklahoma City eastward to Fort Smith, Arkansas. Some spots have received 4 to 6 inches of rainfall in just a few hours time. At these rates, water can quickly cover roads and rise rapidly. The situation is likely to repeat itself.
The stationary front that is helping produce the deluges will remain in the same general region at least through Wednesday. So, additional periods of heavy rainfall and flash flooding will hit from Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Dallas-Fort Worth, Northwestern Arkansas and Little Rock in central Arkansas.
State and local road departments may have to occasionally close ramps and/or sections of highways along the Interstate 30, 35, 40 and 44 corridors.
Some of the thunderstorms dumping the downpours may also produce isolated areas of large hail or severe winds. This severe storm risk stretches into the Ohio Valley.
Other notable weather conditions
Once again, oppressive heat will spread from southern and eastern Texas into Louisiana, southeastern Arkansas and western Mississippi. This includes the Lake Charles, Louisiana, area where people are cleaning up after Hurricane Laura slammed the area last Thursday.
High temperatures will be well into the 90s and crossing into the triple digits, with heat index readings of 105 to 115 degrees because of the sweltering humidity. Other target areas include Austin, Dallas, San Antonio and Brownsville, Texas; Shreveport and Monroe, Louisiana; as well as Jackson, Mississippi.
Due to disruptions to the freight market from Hurricane Laura, FreightWaves is providing free access to key features of SONAR through Friday, Sept. 4. Click here to learn more.
