Excessive rain in portions of central New York on the evening of June 6 prompted a flood watch from National Weather Service Binghamton.
At 11:16 a.m. June 6, the service issued a flash flood watch in Broome, Chemung, Cortland, Sullivan, Tioga and Tompkins county.
Areas across the New York-Pennsylvania state line, including Bradford, Northern Wayne and Susquehanna counties, were also warned of flash flooding in the statement.
“Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations,” the service stated.
Monitor forecasts online at weather.gov and be prepared to take action by reviewing flood safety resources should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.
What is flash flooding?
Flash flooding usually begins within six hours, but often within three hours, of heavy rain or mass amounts of water accumulating in an area, according to the National Weather Service.
This type of flooding usually happens very quickly and catches people off guard. It can be caused by a number of things, but is often due to extremely heavy rainfall from thunderstorms.
“The intensity of the rainfall, the location and distribution of the rainfall, the land use and topography, vegetation types and growth/density, soil type, and soil water-content all determine just how quickly the flash flooding may occur, and influence where it may occur,” writes the National Weather Service.
Flood watch vs. flood warning: What is the difference?
A flood watch and a flood warning are two different things. Here’s the difference.
A flood watch indicates that the conditions are favorable to flooding in an area that is under a watch. These flood watches are usually issued hours and even days ahead of the weather event that could cause the flooding.
A flood warning means that the flooding that could be harmful and poses a serious threat to property and people is expected. This too can be issued hours and days ahead of time based on forecast predictions.
Anytime flooding is a risk people should use caution. Water levels can change rapidly during periods of heavy rainfall.
This article originally appeared on Ithaca Journal: Six New York counties under flood watch for evening of June 6. What you need to know
Reporting by Jacob Mack, Ithaca Journal / Ithaca Journal
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