It’s beginning to be that time of year. With our recent rainfall, mild temperatures and plenty of snow to melt, we’ll be hearing terms like Flash Flood Watch, Flood Warning and Flood Advisory much more often. The question is, what do these flood terms really mean?
To get you better prepared, here is a capsule of some flood terms, courtesy of the National Weather Service, since they are the official government agency that actually issues advisories, watches and warnings to the general public.
Flood Watch/Flash Flood Watch- Issued when the forecast suggests the potential for flooding or flash flooding, but that flooding is not imminent or occurring. “Flash Flooding” is usually a more rapid onset of flooding than simply “flooding”, generally with an onset of less than 6 hours and sometimes no more than 5-15 minutes.
Flood Warning/Flash Flood Warning- Issued when flooding or flash flooding is imminent or in-progress...requires immediate action in the affected areas. Same as above. “Flash Flooding” has a more rapid onset, generally less than 6 hours, and thus can be more dangerous.
Urban and Small Stream Flood Advisory- Issued when flooding of small streams, creeks and poor drainage flooding in urban areas is occurring, but damage would be minor and most problems would be minor inconveniences.
Flood Advisory- Issued when minor flooding along a river or stream or creek is ongoing, but with little to no damage or threat to life and property
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Flood Statement- A statement issued by the National Weather Service to provide an update on flooding that may be forthcoming or already occurring..
Once a river reaches flood stage, the flood severity categories used by the NWS include minor flooding, moderate flooding, and major flooding. Each category has a definition based on property damage and public threat.
Minor Flooding - minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat or inconvenience
Moderate Flooding - some inundation of structures and roads near streams. Some evacuations of people and/or transfer of property to higher elevations are necessary.
Major Flooding - extensive inundation of structures and roads. Significant evacuations of people and/or transfer of property to higher elevations.
The impacts of a floods vary locally. For each NWS river forecast location, flood stage and the stage associated with each of the NWS flood severity categories are established in cooperation with local public officials. Increasing river levels above flood stage constitute minor, moderate, and major flooding. Impacts vary from one river location to another because a certain river stage (height) in one location may have an entirely different impact than the same level above flood stage at another location.
Stay tuned to your CNY Central television stations and CNYcentral.com for the latest on flooding across central New York, particularly over the next couple of months with river ice jams and snow melt typically increasing the flood risk this time of year. Monitor our Exclusive Triple Doppler Radar closely and our Interactive Doppler Radar.
Here are a few other links you may find of interest.
Northeast River Forecast Center
National Weather Service
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