AccuWeather.com reports that the cold front slicing across the country today will reach the Southeast, a day after tropical moisture sparked damaging storms along the Gulf Coast.

Widespread showers and thunderstorms will spread across much of the South today, putting a dent into the severe drought that has gripped the region for most of the year.

A low pressure system from the Gulf of Mexico sparked an outbreak of severe weather across the Florida Panhandle Thursday. A tornado tore through Pensacola, Fla., injuring at least four people. The twister damaged the city's major shopping mall, destroyed a number of homes and knocked out power to thousands of homes and businesses.

The storm system that sparked the tornado has swamped the Gulf Coast. Rainfall totals over the 24-hour period ending today at 2 a.m. EDT include:

Pensacola, Fla.: 9.90"

Destin, Fla.: 6.31"

Valdosta, Ga.: 2.29"

Panama City, Fla.: 2.27"

The rain will at least help to ease the drought conditions in the Southeast. On October 16, the U.S. Drought Monitor reported the majority of the region remained in the midst of year-long exceptional or extreme drought conditions.