If you notice that conditions are worsening, this may be the time to consider evacuation. In fact, a flash flood can occur so quickly that there isn't time to send out a flood warning alert. A flash flood is a sudden violent flood that can take from minutes to hours to develop. During this warning, you are instructed to move to an area of higher ground if you’re in a flood prone area due to the high likelihood of a flash flood happening. The intensity of the rain and the likelihood of greater damage will dictate whether the flood warning is elevated to a flash flood warning.

What is a Flood Warning?Ī flood warning is issued when flooding is imminent or occurring. By doing this, you’ll be able to respond quickly and be able to seek shelter without having to worry about going through your home last minute to salvage important supplies. Having your plan in place and supplies gathered is even more important under these conditions than during an advisory. What Should I Do During a Flood Watch?ĭuring a flood watch, keep an eye on local news in case the watch turns into a warning and you need to move to higher ground. This level of alerts is more severe than an advisory but less serious than a warning. It doesn’t mean that a flood will happen, but it’s possible. What is a Flood Watch?Ī flood watch occurs when conditions are favorable for flooding. At this level, being aware that a flood may form will allow you to quickly visualize what you may need in case of an emergency. Have your supplies and plan in place just in case you have to evacuate. What Should I Do During a Flood Advisory?ĭuring a flood advisory, stay tuned to a local news source to make sure the warning doesn’t shift to something more serious.

There are also different types of flooding that can occur, depending on the location and conditions. While these all have a low level of concern, the danger of a flood can grow if the weather takes a turn for the worse. River flood advisory: Issued when heavy rain causes river levels to rise to potentially dangerous heights.Flash flood advisory: Issued when a sudden local flood is expected due to heavy rain.Coastal flood advisory: Issued when flooding is occurring or imminent along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, or the Gulf of Mexico.Areal flood advisory: Usually issued for flooding that develops gradually from moderate to heavy rainfall.There are a few different types of flood advisories : However, the rain may cause an inconvenience and could lead to property damage if not prepared for adequately. This is the lowest level of weather alerts for flooding. What is a Flood Advisory?Ī flood advisory is issued when flooding is not expected to be severe enough to warrant a warning. Knowing the difference between a flood watch and warning can help you better prepare for potential damage to your home. Besides heat-related incidents, flash floods cause more fatalities every year than any other climate hazard. Family emergency plan, safe shelter, preparedness kit – you want to make sure you have everything in place to keep you and your loved ones protected.īut there’s one watch or warning that doesn’t receive as much instant attention but can cause just as much – if not more – damage: watches and warnings for floods. When your local weather service issues a watch or watching for a tornado, hurricane, or other natural disaster, it probably makes you stop what you’re doing and start going through your mental checklist.

Areal flood warning