FLOOD WATCHES ISSUED FOR THE ENTIRE STATE TODAY… SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTAINING TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS EXPECTED TO BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON AND LAST UNTIL TUESDAY EVENING
FLOOD WATCHES ISSUED FOR THE ENTIRE STATE TODAY…
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTAINING TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS EXPECTED TO BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON AND LAST UNTIL TUESDAY EVENING…THE PRIMARY THREAT IS URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING…
The National Weather Service has issued Flood Watches for the entire state beginning at 2:00 PM this afternoon and continuing until 5:00 PM tomorrow afternoon.
A very moist atmosphere is moving into New England and several rounds of showers and some thunderstorms are expected during the next 36 hours. These showers and thunderstorms may contain very heavy rain with rainfall rates ranging from 2” – 4” inches per hour. These showers and thunderstorms are forecast to slowly move from west to east across the state in clusters starting this afternoon. These clusters could deliver over 4” of rain in a short period of just a few hours to some towns.
This amount of rainfall could cause moderate to isolated pockets of major urban flooding.
Some small stream flooding is also expected in any areas that receive over 3” of rainfall in less than 3 hours. Even some river flooding is possible if the clusters of showers and thunderstorms cover large enough areas.
The period of highest threat for flooding is currently expected late this afternoon into this evening and again Tuesday morning. However, these heavy rainfall systems are unpredictable, so towns should keep a close eye on the radars for any torrential downpours for the duration of this event. The exact locations of the heaviest rainfall will depend on where individual clusters of showers and thunderstorms develop and where they move.
URBAN FLOODING NOTE: The NWS will issue the following messages in order of severity for urban flooding if necessary:
Flood Advisories: For non-life-threatening flooding in urban areas.
Flood Warnings: For life-threatening flooding in urban areas.
Flood Emergencies: For catastrophic, life-threatening flooding in urban areas.
Towns are encouraged to review your Emergency Operations Plans and be prepared to act quickly if flood warnings or flood emergencies are issued by the NWS.