Flood clocks have been issued to more than 12 million people west of New York City, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York State.
A flood clock means that you will need to monitor upcoming forecasts and be prepared to take action in the event that flood warnings are issued.
“This clock serves primarily to highlight the potential for rapid runoff from any heavy rain that falls given the highly saturated soil of recent heavy rainfall events across the area,” the National Meteorological Service said Wednesday morning. “It won’t take much rain to cause rapid flooding in urban areas, prone to flooding and other low-lying areas.”
Normally, this line of predicted storms may not have been the threshold for emitting these clocks. But with the ground so saturated, the flood bar has shrunk.
The soil is like a sponge and, when impregnated, cannot contain much more water.
“Any measurable rainfall, especially amounts greater than 2 inches, can aggravate ongoing flooding throughout the region,” the Weather Forecast Center said.
“There are also growing signs for extremely isolated areas that could receive 3 to 5 inches (especially along the Pennsylvania and New Jersey border) that may need a moderate risk area (level 3 of 4) given the severity of the possible local flood impacts, “” the WPC said Wednesday morning. “However, this system is very progressive and identifies where it is very difficult at this time.”
“The main period of concern is during the evening hours, as a line moves from west to east,” the NWS said. “However, there may be some scattered storms forming before the line this afternoon.”
Strong winds and tornadoes are also possible
It includes the cities of Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Paterson, New Jersey.
“A couple of tornadoes appear likely along with strong gusts that produce scattered damaging winds and a large isolated draft,” the Storm Prediction Center said.
A marginal risk (level 1 of 5) for severe storms covers a larger area of the northeast. It includes cities such as New York, Virginia Beach, Virginia and Charlotte and Raleigh in North Carolina.
Although the likelihood of severe storms is lower in these areas, there is still at least one severe isolated threat during the afternoon and evening.