Tyler, TX – Rising creeks and water-covered highways could become a concern across East Texas as unseasonable warmth combines with a corridor of heavier rain before St. Patrick’s Day.
According to NOAA’s 8-14 day outlook issued February 26 and valid March 6-12, there is a 70-80% probability of above normal temperatures stretching from the Midwest southward into the Gulf Coast. East Texas sits firmly inside that high-confidence zone, signaling highs that could run well above early March averages across the Piney Woods.
In Tyler, where typical early March highs reach the mid-60s, afternoon readings could climb noticeably higher. Longview and Marshall are also expected to see warmer afternoons and milder overnight lows, increasing humidity and giving the region an early taste of late spring.
The precipitation outlook raises a larger concern for the region. NOAA highlights a corridor of well above normal precipitation stretching from East Texas through Louisiana into Mississippi and western Tennessee. That places communities from Lufkin to Texarkana near the axis of repeated rain events during the March 6-12 window.
The combination of elevated temperatures and steady rainfall could push water levels higher along the Sabine, Neches and Angelina rivers. Urban flooding and ponding are possible along major corridors including I-20, U.S. 69 and U.S. 59 during heavier downpours.
Residents should monitor local river forecasts and avoid driving through water-covered roads. This warm, wet pattern is expected to persist through March 12, with additional updates likely as confidence increases heading deeper into early March.
