Following severe weather in the South and Mississippi Valley on Thursday, a slow-moving cold front is expected to bring pockets of active weather across the South, with Texas at risk of flooding due to heavy rain.

Friday will see a relative lull in the action, with scattered showers expected but no widespread threat of severe storms. However, strong thunderstorms are anticipated in the Southeast, particularly from Alabama to the Carolinas. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Storm Prediction Center has issued a Level 1 threat for severe thunderstorms, primarily for the risk of damaging wind gusts and large hail.

Meteorologist Britta Merwin from FOX Weather explained that the severe weather would not be as widespread as in previous days, with some areas experiencing showers or storms while others have partly cloudy skies.

As the weekend approaches, the threat of flooding becomes greater. The FOX Forecast Center predicts that storm activity will redevelop on Friday night, leading to numerous showers and thunderstorms on Saturday. These downpours have the potential to result in flash flooding. The NOAA's Weather Prediction Center has issued a Level 2 out of 4 flash flooding threat for much of East Texas into the Ark-La-Tex region on Saturday.

Rainfall amounts are expected to range from 1 to 2 inches, with some areas possibly receiving up to 3 inches by Sunday morning. The southern Plains will be most affected, while cities like Atlanta, Birmingham, and New Orleans in the Southeast will experience an increase in rain and storm chances on Sunday.

While Texas will begin to dry out, moisture levels will remain above average, and instability will persist, potentially leading to higher rain rates and isolated instances of minor flash flooding.

The cooler air from Canada will follow the storms as they track into the Southeast, leading to a gradual drop in temperatures across the region. Cities like Chicago can expect high temperatures to be 5-10 degrees below average through the weekend. This cooler trend will continue to expand farther south and east, with near to below-average temperatures expected east of the Rockies by next weekend.

By next week, the cooler and drier air is anticipated to reach the Gulf Coast along the Interstate 10 corridor, offering some relief to the ongoing severe and extreme drought conditions in Texas' Hill Country. Areas like New Orleans may experience a few days with highs in the lower 70s.

As the threat of severe weather and flooding looms over the weekend, residents in the affected areas are advised to stay updated on weather alerts and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.