[KYHAM] Ky ARES Advisory: Flood Watch Tonight and Sat.

[Ron Dodson]

Issued at: 3:10 PM EST 2/21/03, expires at: 11:00 PM EST
2/21/03
The NWS has issued a flood watch for all of central Kentucky
and south central Indiana,
including the following Counties, In south central Indiana,
Jefferson, Scott, Washington,
Orange, Clark, Dubois, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd And Perry.
In north central Kentucky,
trimble, Henry, Oldham, Jefferson, Shelby, Meade, Spencer,
Bullitt, Breckinridge, Hardin,
Nelson, Washington And Larue. In east central Kentucky,
Harrison, Scott, Nicholas, Franklin,
Bourbon, Fayette, Woodford, Anderson, Clark, Jessamine,
Mercer, Madison, Garrard and Boyle. In
northwest Kentucky, Hancock and Ohio. In south central
Kentucky, Marion, Lincoln, Grayson,
Casey, Taylor, Green, Hart, Butler, Edmonson, Adair, Warren,
Russell, Metcalfe, Barren, Logan,
Cumberland, Allen, Simpson, Clinton and Monroe. The watch is
in effect from 7 pm est this
evening until 7 pm est Saturday evening (6 pm cst this
evening to 6 pm cst Saturday evening).
As a strong area of surface low pressure moves across the
Ohio and Tennessee!
 River Valley region tonight and Saturday, periods of
moderate to heavy rains will occur.
Rainfall amounts are expected to range from 1 to 2 inches in
general through Saturday evening.
However, there is potential for amounts to 3 inches should
enough moisture reach the area from
the Gulf of Mexico. There are indications that a band of
thunderstorms and heavy rain may
develop ahead of a cold front early Saturday afternoon
across central Kentucky. Should this
occur, precipitation amounts there could locally exceed 3
inches. Soils are nearly saturated
across all of central Kentucky and south central Indiana.
This is due to a combination of
recent snow, ice, and sleet melting rapidly and periods of
rainfall since last weekend. A
number of rivers are already running high. Therefore
additional prolonged moderate to heavy
rainfall will likely result in widespread flooding problems.
A flood watch means that flooding
of small streams, creeks and other drainage areas is
possible. Peop!
le in the watch area should keep an eye on the weather and
be prepared for immediate action
should heavy rains and flooding occur or a flood warning be
issued. People in the watch area
should continue to be aware of the possibility for heavy or
excessive rainfall, avoid low
lying areas, and be careful when approaching highway dips
and underpasses. Ponding water on
highways will occur, therefore allow extra time for travel
tonight and Saturday. 

And from the Paducah NWSFO:

1221 PM CST FRI FEB 21 2003

       ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PADUCAH KENTUCKY
HAS ISSUED A FLOOD WARNING 
       FOR OHIO RIVER AT OWENSBORO FOR MINOR FLOODING...

       RECENT HEAVY RAIN AND SNOWMELT...HAS CAUSED THE OHIO
RIVER TO RISE TO NEAR FLOOD 
       AT OWENSBORO.  MORE PRECIPITATION IS FORECAST ACROSS
THE BASIN OVER THE NEXT 24 
       TO 36 HOURS.  THIS PRECIPITATION WILL FALL OVER
ALREADY SATURATED GROUND WHICH 
       WILL HELP ENHANCE THE RISE IN THE RIVER.  THE OHIO
RIVER IS EXPECTED TO REACH 
       FLOOD STAGE LATE SUNDAY NIGHT OR EARLY MONDAY MORNING
AND THEN CREST AT 41 FEET 
       BY WEDNESDAY MORNING.  

       THE OHIO RIVER AT OWENSBORO.
       * FLOOD STAGE IS 40 FEET.
       * THIS WILL CAUSE MINOR FLOODING. AT 41.0 FEET MINOR
FLOODING OCCURS AFFECTING 
       MAINLY BOTTOMLAND AND SURROUNDING LOW LYING AREAS.
       * THIS COMPARES TO A PREVIOUS CREST OF 41.2 FEET ON
APR 20 1994.

       PEOPLE WITH INTERESTS ALONG THE RIVER SHOULD PREPARE
FOR HIGH WATER BY MOVING 
       THEMSELVES...PROPERTY...AND LIVESTOCK TO HIGHER
GROUND. DO NOT DRIVE INTO AREAS 
       WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD AS THE DEPTH MAY BE TOO
GREAT TO ALLOW SAFE PASSAGE.
       NEVER ALLOW CHILDREN TO PLAY IN OR NEAR FLOOD
WATERS.  STAY TUNED TO NOAA 
       WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE UPDATED 
       FORECASTS.