[MTHOLLYSVRWX] Flash Flood Watch : PHI@ 4/2/2005 4:58:12 AM

[PHI Skywarn]

WGUS61 KPHI 020920
FFAPHI
DEZ001-MDZ008-012-NJZ001-007>010-012-013-015>020-027-PAZ054-055-
060>062-067>071-022100-

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
418 AM EST SAT APR 2 2005

...THE FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 AM EDT SUNDAY
MORNING...

THE WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING AREAS...

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

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

IN MARYLAND...
CECIL AND KENT.

IN DELAWARE...
NEW CASTLE.

SOME CITIES IN THE WATCH INCLUDE ALLENTOWN...BETHLEHEM...CAMDEN...NEW
BRUNSWICK...NEWARK...PERTH AMBOY...PHILADELPHIA...READING...TRENTON
AND WILMINGTON.

LOW PRESSURE OVER THE CENTRAL APPALACHIANS WILL INTENSIFY AS IT 
MOVES TO VIRGINIA LATE TODAY. THE LOW WILL THEN SLOWLY MOVE INTO 
PENNSYLVANIA BY SUNDAY MORNING AND NEW YORK SUNDAY NIGHT.

THIS IS A VERY WET SYSTEM AND WILL BRING A DRENCHING RAIN TO THE
REGION WITH AMOUNTS AVERAGING AROUND 1.5 TO 3 INCHES WITH SOME AREAS
IN NORTHWEST NEW JERSEY AND THE SOUTHERN POCONOS POSSIBLY RECEIVING
AS MUCH 4 OR 5 INCHES. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS FLOOD EVENT FOR SOME
AREAS ESPECIALLY WITH THE ADDITIONAL SNOWMELT. 

SOME EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE TODAY, WHICH WOULD 
ALSO ENHANCE THE DOWNPOURS. THE EXPECTED RAINFALL AMOUNTS WOULD BE 
ENOUGH TO CAUSE WIDESPREAD FLOODING OF MANY OF THE AREA'S STREAMS 
AND CREEKS. SOME WATERWAYS HAVE NOT HAD MUCH TIME TO RECOVER FROM 
RAINFALL EARLIER THIS WEEK, AND ADDITIONAL RAINFALL WILL ALLOW FOR 
SOME SHARP RISES AND RENEWED FLOODING. MAJOR RIVER FLOODING IS 
POSSIBLE ALONG THE RIVER BASINS WHERE THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL 
OCCURS.   

IF YOU LIVE IN A LOCATION THAT IS PRONE TO FLOODING, YOU ARE URGED 
TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO FURTHER WEATHER FORECASTS. IT MIGHT ALSO 
BE APPROPRIATE TO PROTECT PROPERTY BEFORE ANY FLOOD WARNINGS ARE 
ISSUED. IN ADDITION TO STREAM FLOODING, THERE WILL BE URBAN AND POOR 
DRAINAGE FLOODING DURING TIMES OF THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL ON SATURDAY.

IF A ROAD IS BARRICADED, DO NOT DRIVE ON IT. IF TOLD TO EVACUATE,
PLEASE FOLLOW THE DIRECTION OF EMERGENCY PERSONNEL IN YOUR AREA. DO
NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY.
THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS SAFELY.
VEHICLES CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE ABANDONED QUICKLY. IF YOUR
VEHICLE STALLS, ABANDON IT AND SEEK HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.
RAPIDLY RISING WATER MAY ENGULF YOUR VEHICLE AND ITS OCCUPANTS AND
SWEEP THEM AWAY. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.  

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO, COMMERCIAL MEDIA OR YOUR CABLE
TELEVISION PROVIDER FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
 
A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR HEAVY RAIN
ACROSS THE WATCH AREA, WHICH MAY LEAD TO FLOODING ALONG STREAMS,
CREEKS AND MAIN STEM RIVERS. AGAIN IF YOU ARE IN A FLOOD PRONE AREA,
CHECK YOUR PREPAREDNESS REQUIREMENTS. KEEP INFORMED AND BE READY FOR
ACTION IF FLOODING IS OBSERVED OR IF A FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED.

$$