Full Notification

FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING...

The Flood Watch continues for McDowell County from this evening through Saturday morning.

* Periods of moderate to heavy rainfall, mainly tonight through
Friday will combine with wet conditions and already high stream
levels, to produce excessive water runoff in many areas.
Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are likely across the region,
with locally higher amounts in the extreme southern
Appalachians. Some rivers, streams, and creeks will likely leave
their banks and flood low-water crossings. This is especially
true near south-facing mountain ridges such as the Blue Ridge 
Escarpment, but flooding may occur just about anywhere in the 
western Carolinas and northeast Georgia - especially tonight 
through Friday. In urban areas, street flooding is especially 
possible, affecting homes and businesses and impeding travel. 
Already swollen lakes are likely to remain at abnormally high 
levels heading into the weekend. 

* River flooding may become most pronounced along the upper
reaches of the French Broad River and along the Swannanoa river
in the North Carolina mountains. Flooding may develop more
quickly on Friday as heavier showers and embedded thunderstorms
cross the region along and ahead of a passing cold front.
Flooding east of the mountains will be most likely during the
day on Friday. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Flood Watch means there is a potential for flooding based on
current rainfall forecasts.

You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible
Flood Warnings and Flood Advisories. Those living in areas prone 
to flooding should be prepared to take action. These actions 
typically include moving to higher ground if flooding is imminent,
and moving belongings to higher ground well before flooding 
develops in normally flood prone areas.