Northeast Flooding

[nystate]

We have a flood watch:

FLOOD WATCH
NYZ006>008-200400-

FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
355 PM EST WED MAR 19 2003

A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY FOR COUNTIES
EAST OF LAKE ONTARIO.

THIS WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
LEWIS...OSWEGO AND JEFFERSON.

THE COMBINATION OF RUNOFF FROM SNOWMELT...ABOVE FREEZING
TEMPERATURES AND RAIN WILL BRING THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME FLOODING
TO THE NORTH COUNTY STARTING THURSDAY NIGHT.

PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO SPREAD INTO THE AREA THURSDAY
MORNING. THE PRECIPITATION COULD START AS A BRIEF PERIOD OF FREEZING
RAIN...BUT WARMER AIR WILL ARRIVE QUICKLY CHANGING IT ALL TO RAIN.

RAIN WILL INCREASE IN INTENSITY LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON INTO EARLY
FRIDAY...BEFORE DIMINISHING DURING THE DAY FRIDAY. IN ADDITION TO
THE RAIN...TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN THE 40S THURSDAY
NIGHT AND WARM INTO THE 50S FRIDAY...SO THE MELTING OF SNOW WILL
CONTINUE.

THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT SNOWPACK ACROSS THE TUG HILL PLATEAU. SPOTTER
REPORTS INDICATE THAT SNOW ON THE GROUND EXCEEDS 30 INCHES IN SPOTS
WITH A WATER EQUIVALENT OF OVER 12 INCHES.

THERE IS ALSO THE POSSIBILITY OF LOCALIZED FLOOD PROBLEMS DUE TO
ICE BREAKING UP ON CREEKS AND STREAMS CAUSING ICE JAMS.

REMEMBER...A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR
FLOODING BUT FLOODING IS NOT OCCURRING OR IMMINENT.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS
FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES. UPDATES CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR WEBSITE
AT HTTP://WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV/BUF (ALL LOWER CASE) OR HEARD ON NOAA
WEATHER RADIO.

TMA

[nystate]

Now we are mentioned by name:


THERE IS ALSO THE POSSIBILITY OF LOCALIZED FLOOD PROBLEMS DUE TO ICE BREAKING UP ON CREEKS AND STREAMS CAUSING ICE JAMS...ESPECIALLY IN THE BLACK RIVER BASIN EAST OF LAKE ONTARIO

and

MELT...SOME OF THE ALREADY HIGH RUNNING CREEKS AND STREAMS MAY EXCEED FLOOD STAGE TONIGHT AND FRIDAY. NEW RIVER FLOOD WARNINGS MAY NEED TO BE ISSUED. SOME OF THE RIVERS AND CREEKS OF CONCERN ARE THE OATKA CREEK AT GARBUTT...THE BLACK CREEK AT CHURCHVILLE...THE ALLEGANY RIVER AT OLEAN AND SALAMANCA AND THE BLACK RIVER AT BOONVILLE AND WATERTOWN[/b]