Flood watch update

Areal Flood Watch Statement as of 3:20 am EDT on April 21, 2015

Flood Watch remains in effect through Wednesday morning...

The Flood Watch continues for

* portions of western Maine and New Hampshire... including the

 following areas... in western Maine... Androscoggin... Central

 Somerset... coastal Cumberland... coastal Waldo... coastal York...

   interior Cumberland... interior Waldo... interior York...

 Kennebec... Knox... Lincoln... northern Franklin... northern

 Oxford... Sagadahoc... southern Franklin... southern Oxford and

 southern Somerset. In New Hampshire... Belknap... coastal

 Rockingham... interior Rockingham... Merrimack... northern

 Carroll... northern Grafton... southern Carroll... southern

 Coos... southern Grafton... Strafford and Sullivan.

* Through Wednesday morning.

* Low pressure will drive an occluded front across the region

today preceded by locally heavy rain and scattered thunderstorms.

This frontal system will produce between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of

rain across much of the area... with locally higher amounts. The

heaviest rainfall should occur this morning... but runoff and

additional snowmelt will keep the threat for flooding going

through at least tonight. The heaviest rainfall is expected on

the coastal plain... as well as the east slopes of the White

Mountains northeastward into the Maine foothills.

* Rivers are already on the rise from snowmelt over the past few

weeks. 1.5 to 2.5 inches of rainfall will allow some rivers to

rise to bankfull and even overflow their banks. Urban and poor

drainage flooding is also likely this morning in locally heavy

rainfall.

 

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.