Rain, flooding risk to increase in the Rockies and southern Plains this week

Hot and dry weather has been the theme in the Plains lately, but a shift in the weather pattern will send rain to parts of the region this week, sparking the risk of flooding.

The first of two potential episodes of flooding will continue through Tuesday, with heavy rain and thunderstorms from eastern Colorado through the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles into Kansas and Oklahoma, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Mike Youman said.

Rain and thunderstorms initially developed in Colorado and northern New Mexico before moving eastward into Kansas, Oklahoma and the northern Texas Panhandle late Sunday night. Those storms will then advance into eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas before falling apart later on Monday.

Although most areas will have 1-2 inches of rain, one location with the possibi