
On May 20, 2020, the NWS issued a Flash Flood Emergency for the Tittabawassee River in Midland County, Michigan due to multiple dam failures causing the river to overflow and reach its highest crest since 1986. On February 6, 2020, the NWS issued a Flash Flood Emergency for Tazewell County, Virginia due to a major storm moving through the area which caused the Clinch River to rise to its highest crest in 40 years. On September 10, 2017, the NWS issued a Flash Flood Emergency for life-threatening storm surge because of Hurricane Irma in southwestern Florida at the eye landfall. On August 27, 2017, as Hurricane Harvey brought torrential rain to southeast Texas, the NWS issued a "Flash Flood Emergency for Catastrophic Life Threatening Flooding." In addition, some NWS Weather Forecast Offices have instituted an enhanced flash flood warning, referred to as a flash flood emergency (or as termed by the Albany, New York office as a flash flood warning emergency ), which indicates a severe flooding situation in densely populated areas, similar to the procedure for declaring a tornado emergency.


Where can I hear this alert? Ī Flash Flood Watch will be issued over NOAA weather radios. It does not mean that one is going to happen, just that it is possible. If a Flash Flood Warning is issued, then leave for higher ground immediately.Ī Flash Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for a flash flood to occur.

If you live in the area covered by the watch, then place important items in a safe place, or prepare to take them with you. Keep in mind that flash floods can occur quickly, so you may want to avoid the area under the watch. A Flash Flood Watch does not guarantee that a flash flood will happen, it just means that it is possible. Prepare to move to higher ground out of the flood zone. Flash Flood Watches are issued by the National Weather Service.
