Heavy rain and warmer temperatures are pushing into the southern Catskills, melting snow on the ground and bringing an increased risk of flash flooding.
An alert issued Tuesday afternoon by the National Weather Service in Binghamton urges Delaware, Sullivan and Otsego County residents to watch out for flooding along rivers and creeks on Wednesday and Thursday:
A Strong Storm System Is Developing Over The Center Of The Country And Will Push Mild Air And Rain Into The Region On Wednesday. Some Of The Rain Will Be Heavy Wednesday Evening. This Rain...In Combination With Melting Snow ...Could Cause Flooding Of Small Streams And Minor Flooding Of The Rivers In The Region. ...Flood Watch In Effect From Wednesday Evening Through Thursday Morning.
Update: Shortly after the alert cited above was issued, NWS Albany issued a flood watch that covers a large portion of Eastern New York, including Ulster, Schoharie and Greene Counties.
From the alert:
The Combination Of Moderate To Heavy Rain And Snow Melt On Frozen Ground Will Likely Cause Localized Small Stream Flooding. With Some Road Culverts Clogged With Ice...A Few Rural Road Washouts Are Also Likely. Past History Says That Events Like This Also Produce A Couple Of Hillside Slips Or Mud Slides In Steep Terrain. Basement Flooding Is Also Possible.
Short Lived River Ice Jams Are Also Possible. Ice Is Not Yet Thick Enough For Long Lived Ice Jams That Would Cause Serious Flooding. Some Minor Flooding Is Possible From Ice Jams. * There Is A Low Chance For Larger River Flooding At This Time. No Larger River Flooding Is Forecast By The River Forecast Center. However...Later Forecasts Should Be Monitored.
Timing...Best Chance For Flooding Looks To Be Wednesday Night And Thursday.
We'll keep an eye on local weather alerts and hydrographs. Readers, if you spot flooding in your area, let us know: Send an email or photo to editor@watershedpost.com, or leave a comment below.
