Category: Weather Alerts

Flood Facts for Driving

• Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars causing loss of control and possible stalling.
• A foot of water will float many vehicles.
• Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles including sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and pick-ups.
• Remember: Turn Around, Don’t Drown!

Here are some tips of what to do during a flash flooding event.

• Go to high ground immediately.
• Get out of areas subject to flooding, such as low spots, canyons, washes, etc.
• Do not attempt to cross a flowing stream on foot. Even water only six inches deep, when moving at a high rate of speed, can knock you off your feet.
• Never drive through flooded areas or standing water. Shallow, swiftly flowing water can wash a car from a roadway. Also, the roadbed may not be intact under the water.
• If the vehicle stalls, abandon it immediately and seek higher ground. Rapidly rising water may engulf the vehicle and its occupants.
• Be especially cautious at night when it’s harder to recognize flood dangers.
• Do not camp or park your vehicle along streams and washes, particularly during threatening conditions.
• Understand the difference between a flash flood watch and a flash flood warning. 
  • A flash flood watch means that flooding may occur. Residents should stay alert, closely monitor rivers and streams, and be prepared to move to high ground quickly. A flash flood warning means that there is actual flooding. Residents should act at once and move to high ground.

Staying Safe After a Flood

• Pay attention to authorities for information and instructions. Return home only when authorities say it is safe.
• Avoid driving except in emergencies.
• Wear heavy work gloves, protective clothing and boots during clean up and use appropriate face coverings or masks if cleaning mold or other debris. 
• People with asthma and other lung conditions and/or immune suppression should not enter buildings with indoor water leaks or mold growth that can be seen or smelled. Children should not take part in disaster cleanup work.
• Be aware that snakes and other animals may be in your house.
• Be aware of the risk of electrocution. Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water. Turn off the electricity to prevent electric shock if it is safe to do so.
• Avoid wading in floodwater, which can be contaminated and contain dangerous debris. Underground or downed power lines can also electrically charge the water.
• Use a generator or other gasoline-powered machinery ONLY outdoors and away from windows.

* WHAT...Heat index values up to 102 expected.

* WHERE...The urban corridor of northern Delaware, southeast
  Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

* WHEN...From noon Friday to 8 PM EDT Saturday.

* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat
  illnesses to occur.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out
of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young
children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles
under any circumstances.

Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When
possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or
evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat
stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when
possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent
rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone
overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.
Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.

Late last night Tropical Storm Elsa was named in the Atlantic Ocean and is expected to head toward the Caribbean by Friday, where warnings have been issued for the Windward and Leeward Islands. Residents of the Caribbean and Florida should track the progress of Elsa closely through the holiday weekend.

A large uncertainty is when and how sharp the system is expected to make a northwestward turn later this weekend and early next week. If Elsa tracks toward Florida, later Monday or Tuesday appears to be the earliest this system could impact parts of South Florida. At this point it is too early to tell if Elsa will cause any issues up the East Coast but we are keeping an eye on the storm.

The Greater Philadelphia Severe Weather Team will bring you the latest on this storm as it tracks towards the US.

Below are two different model, please note these are just for reference NOT for use in decision making purposes.

FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON
THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING...

The Flash Flood Watch continues for

* Portions of northern Delaware...New Jersey...and southeast
  Pennsylvania...including the following areas...in northern
  Delaware...New Castle. In New Jersey...Camden, Gloucester,
  Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Northwestern Burlington, Salem,
  Somerset, and Western Monmouth. In southeast Pennsylvania...
  Delaware, Eastern Chester, Eastern Montgomery, Lower Bucks,
  Philadelphia, Upper Bucks, Western Chester, and Western Montgomery.

* From 2 PM EDT this afternoon through Friday morning.

* Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected this
  afternoon through the overnight hours tonight. Rain rates of 2
  inches per hour will be possible at times. Widespread total rain
  amounts of 1 to 3 inches are likely, with locally higher amounts
  possible.

* Heavy rain in short periods of time will cause the potential for
  streams and creeks to quickly rise out of their banks as well as
  the potential for flash flooding in urban areas.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly has issued a

* Flash Flood Watch for portions of northern Delaware...southern New
  Jersey...and southeast Pennsylvania...including the following
  areas...in northern Delaware...New Castle. In southern New
  Jersey...Camden, Gloucester, Northwestern Burlington, and Salem.
  In southeast Pennsylvania...Delaware, Eastern Chester, Eastern
  Montgomery, Lower Bucks, Philadelphia, Upper Bucks, Western
  Chester, and Western Montgomery.

* From 3 PM EDT this afternoon through this evening.

* Showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop by mid afternoon
  over western Maryland into central Pennsylvania and move eastward
  into the region by late this afternoon into this evening. These
  storms will be capable of producing heavy rainfall over a short
  period of time which may result in flash flooding.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

* WHAT...Mixed precipitation. Additional snow accumulations of 1
  to 3 inches and ice accumulations of around one tenth of an
  inch.

* WHERE...Portions of central, northern, northwest and southern
  New Jersey, southeast Pennsylvania and northern Delaware.

* WHEN...Until 7 PM EST Friday.

* IMPACTS...Expect slippery road conditions. The hazardous
  conditions will impact the commute times this evening and on
  Friday morning.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Patchy freezing drizzle, sleet, and snow
  will continue through the evening hours. Snow, sleet, and rain
  will then increase Friday around sunrise from the southwest as
  the next system approaches.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling.

The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can
be obtained by calling 5 1 1.