[MTHOLLYSVRWX] Flash Flood Watch : PHI@ 06/20/2003 20:06:56

[n2qae@arrl.net]

WGUS61 KPHI 210140
FFAPHI
DEZ001-MDZ008-NJZ001-007>010-012>019-PAZ054-055-060>062-067>071-
210900-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
940 PM EDT FRI JUN 20 2003


...FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES INTO SATURDAY NIGHT...


A FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS THROUGH 
SATURDAY NIGHT...

IN PENNSYLVANIA...
  DELAWARE...PHILADELPHIA...CHESTER...MONTGOMERY...BERKS...LEHIGH...
  NORTHAMPTON...CARBON...BUCKS AND MONROE.

IN NEW JERSEY...
  SUSSEX...WARREN...MORRIS...HUNTERDON...SOMERSET...EASTERN
  MONMOUTH...SALEM...CAMDEN...GLOUCESTER...WESTERN MONMOUTH...
  MERCER...MIDDLESEX AND NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON.

IN DELAWARE...
  NEW CASTLE.

IN MARYLAND...
  CECIL.

THE FIRST SHOT OF HEAVY RAIN PRODUCED A WIDESPREAD SWATH OF ONE TO 
THREE INCH RAINS FROM CECIL AND NEW CASTLE COUNTIES NORTHWARD INTO 
THE POCONOS. FLOOD WARNINGS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR MANY OF THESE 
COUNTIES AS NUMEROUS STREAMS AND RIVERS HAVE FLOODED. DO NOT DRIVE 
AROUND BARRICADES. THE AXIS OF HEAVY RAIN OVERNIGHT WILL BE OVER THE 
POCONOS AND NORTHERN NEW JERSEY. REMEMBER AT NIGHT IT IS VERY 
DIFFICULT TO JUDGE HOW DEEP THE WATER IS ON ROADWAYS. SOME OF THE 
WORST FLOODING USUALLY DOES OCCUR DURING THE NIGHTTIME HOURS. 

THE TRIGGERING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM ALOFT WILL BE MOVING EAST ACROSS 
THE WATCH AREA ON SATURDAY. THIS SHOULD IGNITE A SECOND ROUND OF 
HEAVY RAIN ON SATURDAY DAY WITH RUNOFF PROBLEMS CONTINUING INTO 
SATURDAY NIGHT.

RAIN AMOUNTS WILL BE SOMEWHAT VARIABLE THE REST OF TONIGHT AND 
SATURDAY...BUT WIDESPREAD AMOUNTS ARE LIKELY TO BE BETWEEN AROUND 
ONE INCH...WITH LOCAL AMOUNTS POSSIBLY NEAR 3 INCHES.  

AS A RESULT...SMALL STREAMS AND URBAN AREAS WITH POOR DRAINAGE ARE 
PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO FLOODING...ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE 
HEAVY RAIN WHICH FELL TODAY AND OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS. CECIL...NEW 
CASTLE...CHESTER...DELAWARE...MONTGOMERY...BERKS...LEHIGH AND CARBON 
COUNTIES ARE EXTREMELY VULNERABLE TO ANY ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAIN.

A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT FLOODING OF STREAMS...CREEKS AND OTHER 
DRAINAGE AREAS IS POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA. PEOPLE IN THE WATCH
AREA SHOULD KEEP AN EYE ON THE WEATHER AND BE PREPARED FOR IMMEDIATE 
ACTION...SUCH AS QUICKLY MOVING TO HIGHER GROUND...SHOULD FLOODING 
OCCUR OR A FLOOD WARNING BE ISSUED.
 
A FLOOD THREAT EXISTS ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS IN THE INDICATED
AREAS. URBAN FLOODING IS ALSO POSSIBLE IN POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. PEOPLE
ALONG CREEKS AND STREAMS SHOULD MONITOR WATER LEVELS FREQUENTLY IF
HEAVY RAIN OCCURS. CHECK PREPAREDNESS REQUIREMENTS. BE READY TO LEAVE
IMMEDIATELY IF FLOODING IS OBSERVED OR A WARNING IS ISSUED. HAVE
ALTERNATIVE ESCAPE ROUTES PLANNED IN CASE WATER COVERS OR IS FLOWING
ACROSS YOUR PRIMARY ESCAPE ROUTE.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION
STATIONS...OR YOUR CABLE TELEVISION OUTLET FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR
UPDATES. ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET 
AT WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV/PHI IN SMALL LETTERS. PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK
UNDERNEATH THE RADAR IMAGERY WHICH WILL GIVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 
ON HOW TO MINIMIZE YOUR RISKS FROM FLOODING. TURN AROUND ON 
BARRICADED ROADS...IT MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE.
 
$$

TFG


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