PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
600 AM EDT FRI MAY 3 2013

...This is Severe Weather Awareness Week...

The National Weather Service in partnership with several agencies, including the NY State Disaster Preparedness Commission, is promoting severe weather safety for all people.

This statement covers flash floods.

Since 1996, flash floods have accounted for 12 deaths and more than 53 million dollars in property damage across the Tri-State area.

Flash floods can occur anywhere from within a few minutes to a few hours of excessive rainfall.  The two key elements contributing to flash flooding are rainfall intensity and duration.

Slow moving thunderstorms moving over the same area can produce rainfall rates in excess of 1 to 2 inches per hour for several hours.  These storms, which climatologically occur from spring through fall, can produce flash flooding of street and poor drainage areas, small streams and rivers.

When there is a potential for flooding beyond 36 hours, our National Weather Service office on Long Island NY will provide this information in our Hazardous Weather Outlook text product.

Flood watches are issued by our NWS office when there is a potential 
For any type of flooding...except tidal flooding...within 36 hours.

Flash Flood Warnings will be issued when any type of flooding, except tidal flooding, will create an immediate threat to life and property within 6 hours.  Last year, we correctly forecast 91 percent of 52 flash flood events with an average lead-time of 38 minutes.  Our office uses a combination of weather radar, rain gages and volunteer Skywarn Spotter observations to issue warnings.

These outlooks, watches and warnings will be issued for people living in 11 counties in southeast NY, covering the Lower Hudson Valley, New York City and Long Island, 5 counties in northeast New Jersey and 4 counties in southern Connecticut.

The final statement will cover a review of topics presented during this week.

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