National Forecast Chart of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Weather Forecast Center/National Ocean Atmosphere and Management Closed subtitles
The jet stream above the Gulf of Mexico will most likely reach areas that are not normally hit: Southeastern United States.
The National Weather Service said extensive rainfall in the area could cause 4 to 6 inches of rain from this weekend to Monday and Tuesday. Isolated spots are expected to see up to 12 inches of rain.
Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina are expected to see most of the effects of the atmospheric river.
"The likelihood of a decline this weekend will drop this weekend, which could cause heavy rain, which could cause flooding," the NWS said earlier on Saturday.
Essentially, an atmospheric river is a concentrated area of water vapor that transports a large amount of water from the sky.
They usually come from the Gulf of Mexico or the Gulf of the Caribbean and land in the western United States, but not this time.
"In the winter, California gets a lot of precipitation in the winter," said Andrew Hazelton, an associate scientist at the University of Miami, who worked there with NOAA.
But landing outside California is not rare, he said. Hazelton believes they usually occur due to “cut-off lows” when jet streams in the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean were cut off. This cutoff leads to transfer. It turns the jet stream into a closed low-pressure system. Many atmospheric river activities hit from east to west, and the closed low-pressure routes are east to east.
Scientists say this southeastern border event could help some areas with recent drought.
Today’s weather will be mostly quiet, but the chances of rainfall will increase later this weekend, with heavy rains from Monday to Tuesday likely causing flooding. During the weekends, come back often to check the latest forecasts. #NCWX pic.twitter.com/rm2vcugvfp
- NWS Raleigh (@NWSraleigh) May 10, 2025
Certain parts of Florida, including central Florida, have seen droughts in the winter. More precipitation in these locations can make up for the cold and cold seasons.
“When you rain too much in a short period of time, it can be a flood and a flash flood threat,” Hazelton said. “So, I’ll keep an eye on that, but hopefully it will be more beneficial.”
Hazelton said some extra water may be seen in creeks, streams and low-lying areas.
Preventive measures for any other advanced sedimentary events remain in place for areas prone to flooding.
"Always remember to turn around and not drown," Hazelton said of the atmospheric river incident. This could lead to flooding in certain areas. "If you happen to go out and have a flash flood, don't try to get through it - because that's the thing. Only a few inches of water can knock you off your feet. Be safe and keep the ground high until the water fades."