The National Weather Service in Philadelphia has issued a Flood Watch for multiple counties across Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, cautioning residents to brace for the possibility of substantial flooding starting this afternoon. According to the NWS advisory, the watch will remain in effect from 2 PM EDT through late tonight, amid forecasts predicting heavy rainfall.
Specifically, the alert mentions that "excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations." The regions impacted include, but are not limited to, New Castle in Delaware, Hunterdon and Somerset in New Jersey, and Berks and Philadelphia in Pennsylvania. The rainfall expected to rapidly accumulate could lead to rise out of their banks of local creeks and streams, intensifying the flooding risk, as detailed by the National Weather Service.
Rainfall intensities could peak with "rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches within a brief period of time leading to flash flooding," as stated by the NWS. Furthermore, localized areas may experience even greater deluges with totals climbing up to around 4 inches before the storm activity is projected to diminish overnight Tuesday.
Residents living in the identified flood watch areas are advised to remain vigilant and be prepared to take immediate action should flooding develop. "Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks," warns the NWS advisory, underscoring the urgent nature of the situation for those in low-lying and other susceptible locations. Proactive measures and attentiveness to later forecasts and potential Flood Warnings are strongly recommended for those within the outlined regions.
