FLOOD WATCHES ISSUED FOR THE ENTIRE STATE TODAY… REMNANTS OF HENRI EXPECTED TO GENERATE VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND URBAN/SMALL STREAM FLOODING TODAY…

EXWU0053 - Full Weather Report

FLOOD WATCHES ISSUED FOR THE ENTIRE STATE TODAY…

REMNANTS OF HENRI EXPECTED TO GENERATE VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND URBAN/SMALL STREAM FLOODING TODAY…

At 10:00 AM satellite and radars are showing the upper-level rotation of the remnants of Henri centered over Eastern New York State. Bands of heavy showers are already occurring in the Bridgeport and Hartford areas.  Many small streams and rivers are currently ½ to ¾ bankfull.  Temperatures are currently in the low to mid 70’s across the state with a very humid air mass over our area.  The soil remains fully saturated from yesterday’s tropical rainfall across the entire state. 

In this very moist atmosphere, any daytime heating is likely to trigger the development of very heavy downpours and some thunderstorm activity.  Any showers and thunderstorms that develop may contain rainfall rates up to 2” per hour.  These torrential downpours will quickly cause urban and some small stream flooding.  The slow movement of Henri’s remnants may also lead to bands of heavy rainfall remaining over the same towns which have the potential to delivery up to 3” of rain in just a few hours. As in all dying tropical systems, an isolated weak tornado cannot be ruled out. 

The formation of these heavy showers and some thunderstorms is expected to begin around noon and reach a peak between 3:00 – 6:00 PM (see radar simulation at 4:00 PM far right) with the maximum heating of the day.  The timing of the heaviest rainfall may coincide with the afternoon rush hour causing significant ponding on roadways and a moderate impact on the rush hour.  The heavy downpours are expected to subside this evening after sunset.  Total rainfall (see image second from the right) is expected to range from 1” – 3” statewide with the potential for locally higher amounts.