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Severe storm, flood threats east of the Rockies (forecast video)

Storms slowing down supply chains

Looks like we have a wet start to the week for many areas east of the Rockies, and frontal boundaries will help produce plenty of disruptive weather. Monday, August 26 will be especially rough for truckers on tweener and long hauls between the Great Plains and the Midwest, mostly from Oklahoma to Wisconsin and vice versa. Severe storms this afternoon and tonight could contain large hail, extremely gusty winds and even a few tornadoes. Looking at the latest data from FreightWaves SONAR, storms may be particularly intense from Oklahoma City to Missouri and western Illinois, and localized flash flooding could lead to roadblocks on some secondary roads or interstate ramps in any given spot.

SONAR Critical Events: Monday, August 26, 2019, 11:00 a.m. EDT.

Heavy storms may also flood portions of the Gulf Coast from New Orleans to Mobile, Pensacola and Apalachicola, as well as areas just inland. This will affect the I-10 corridor, as well as US-90 and US-98.

Watch out for more record-breaking heat in central and western Texas, where highs of 108° to 115° will be common from San Angelo to the Midland-Odessa and Fort Stockton. These temperatures are 15 to 20 degrees above normal for late August. Drivers: spend as little time as possible outside your trucks and know the signs of heat illness.


Tropical update

Tropical Storm Dorian continues its path toward the Caribbean, likely drenching some of the Lesser Antilles late tonight or early Tuesday. Some wind damage is possible, too. This includes St. Lucia which is under a Hurricane Watch, as well as Barbados, Martinique, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines which are under a Tropical Storm Warning. Winds have increased to 60 mph, but Dorian could become a Category 1 hurricane with winds of 75 to 80 mph by early Thursday as it skirts just south of Puerto Rico. The storm could then make a direct hit on the Dominican Republic later that day.

SONAR Critical Events: Tropical Storm Dorian on Monday, August 26, 2019, 11:00 a.m. EDT.

The storm will likely cause disruptions to shipping routes all week, and operations may be impacted at a few oil facilities in the region. Dorian’s forecast track will probably shift a bit throughout the week, so look for more updates from FreightWaves.

Ocean freighters will also have to steer around a potential system off the East Coast of the U.S. An area of low pressure is spinning over the Atlantic about 275 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Atmospheric conditions are favorable for the development of a subtropical or tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours. The storm will then move to the northeast further out to sea.


Have a great day, and be careful out there!

Nick Austin

Nick is a meteorologist with 20 years of forecasting and broadcasting experience. He was nominated for a Midsouth Emmy for his coverage during a 2008 western Tennessee tornado outbreak. He received his Bachelor of Science in Meteorology from Florida State University, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Management from the Georgia Tech. Nick is a member of the American Meteorological Society and National Weather Association. As a member of the weather team at WBBJ-TV in Jackson, Tennessee, Nick was nominated for a Mid-South Emmy for live coverage of a major tornado outbreak in February 2008. As part of the weather team at WRCB-TV in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Nick shared the Chattanooga Times-Free Press Best of the Best award for “Best Weather Team” eight consecutive years.