Kocet's Corner

Did you know that rainfall during the warm season tends to be greater thanwhat occurs during the winter? The underlying cause is that warm air can holdmuch more water vapor than cold air, so there is simply more moisture availableto storms during the late spring and summer. So much so that thunderstorms canput down 2 or 3 inches of rain in less than an hour, while big winter stormstake all day to do that.That being said, there is a growing threat of flooding across the southernPlains during the next 36 hours. A stalled front through Texas and Oklahomawill be the gathering point for tropical moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. Theresult will be an expanding area of heavy rain in central and western Texasinto Oklahoma Friday. The heavy rain is also likely to back into eastern NewMexico.

With rainfall topping 2 and 3 inches in some locations, this part of thecountry can expect flash flooding to occur, especially Friday afternoon intoFriday night.

Speaking of flash flooding, why is it a bad idea to drive through flood waters?Oh, you'll probably make it through alright, but what if you don't? What if theroad is not there or the water is a bit deeper than you thought and the currentis stronger? Well then you might be one of the 120 or so people that die infloods each year.

Story by AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist John Kocet.