The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch:
FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
403 PM EST FRI DEC 20 2013…HEAVY RAINFALL AND POTENTIAL FLOODING THIS WEEKEND…
A STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL ORGANIZE ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS ON SATURDAY AND MOVE TOWARD THE SOUTHERN GREAT LAKES AND OHIO VALLEY REGIONS THROUGH LATE SUNDAY. RAIN IS EXPECTED TO OVERSPREAD THE AREA SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE INTO SUNDAY. RAINFALL WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES…ESPECIALLY FROM LATE SATURDAY AFTERNOON INTO LATE SATURDAY NIGHT. WHILE THE EXACT TRACK OF THE HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION IS STILL UNCERTAIN…THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR 1 TO 3 INCHES OF RAINFALL. IN ADDITION…WARMER AIR SURGING NORTHWARD WILL ALLOW FOR CONTINUED MELTING OF THE REMAINING SNOWPACK. THE COMBINATION OF RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL AND RECENT SNOWMELT MAY LEAD TO FLOODING OF STREAMS AND CREEKS ALONG WITH LOW LYING AREAS. RIVER LEVELS ACROSS THE MAUMEE AND WABASH BASINS WILL LIKELY SEE SIGNIFICANT RISES AND POTENTIAL FLOODING INTO NEXT WEEK.
…FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING…
THE FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR
* PORTIONS OF NORTHERN INDIANA AND NORTHWEST OHIO…INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS…IN NORTHERN INDIANA…ADAMS…ALLEN IN…BLACKFORD…CASS IN…DE KALB…FULTON IN…GRANT…HUNTINGTON…JAY…KOSCIUSKO…MARSHALL…MIAMI…NOBLE…PULASKI…STARKE…WABASH…WELLS…WHITE AND WHITLEY. IN NORTHWEST OHIO…ALLEN OH…DEFIANCE…FULTON OH…HENRY…PAULDING…PUTNAM…VAN WERT AND WILLIAMS.
* FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING
* RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL AND SNOWMELT WILL INCREASE THE THREAT FOR FLOODING. RAINFALL TOTALS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE WITH HIGHEST AMOUNTS SOUTH OF US 24. THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL WILL OCCUR LATE SATURDAY AFTERNOON INTO SATURDAY NIGHT.
* IMPACTS INCLUDE FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS AS WELL AS STREAMS AND CREEKS. MAIN STEM RIVER LEVELS WILL SEE SIGNIFICANT RISES AND POTENTIAL FLOODING INTO NEXT WEEK.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON CURRENT FORECASTS.
YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP.