Deluge Of Rain, Thunderstorms Heading To NH

GRAY ME — UPDATED: 2 p.m. on June 19, 2017: The National Weather Service has issued a number of storm alerts warning of rain and thunderstorms on June 19, 2017, as well as flash flooding through Tuesday morning, according to alerts online. A hazardous weather outlook was posted at just before 3:30 a.m. this morning for central, southern, and northern New Hampshire, including Merrimack and Hillsborough Counties. A flash flood watch was also posted this morning at 4 a.m. At 12:25 p.m., the NWS posted a "severe thunderstorm watch" through 8 p.m. tonight.

The flash flood watch runs from 2 p.m. this afternoon into Tuesday morning, according to the NWS.

“A deep, moist air mass is in place across much of the Northeast today,” the warning stated. “This will lead to widespread shower and thunderstorm development ahead of a slow moving cold front this afternoon. Thunderstorms that develop are expected to produce very heavy rainfall due to a combination of significant moisture and slow movement parallel to the front.”

The storm timeline, according to Weather.com, begins between 1 and 2 p.m. in Amherst, Bedford, Concord, Merrimack, Milford, and Nashua and then is expected to return around 7 p.m. The eastern part of the state – Exeter, Londonderry, Hampton, Portsmouth, North Hampton, Salem, and Windham – will see storms later in the evening, probably between 8 and 10 p.m.

With heavy rainfall producing storms trailing across the same areas this afternoon, flash flooding is possible, the alert stated.

One to two inches of rainfall is expected although higher amounts are possible, the NWS stated. Smaller streams may leave their banks and cause flooding while road washouts will make some streets and highways impassable.

Here’s what to do in case you drive near or into flash flooding:

The Red Cross in both New Hampshire and Vermont is also ramping up its operations before the storm hits, according to a press statement.

“Preparing for severe weather before it strikes can make our families safer and our communities stronger,” said Lloyd Ziel, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer for the American Red Cross in New Hampshire and Vermont. “We urge people to share Red Cross preparedness tips with family and friends, because the best protection from the unexpected is to be prepared ahead of time.”

The Red Cross recommends that people prepare for severe weather by taking the following steps:

• Download the free Red Cross Emergency App: The Emergency App gives you instant access to weather alerts, life-saving information and ways to contact family and friends in an emergency, all from your mobile device. This easy-to-use, all-inclusive app provides expert advice on what to do in case of disasters including floods, tornadoes, fires and more. The free Emergency App is available in app stores for smartphones and tablets by searching for the American Red Cross or by going to redcross.org/apps.
• Create and practice a home tornado plan: Pick a “safe room” or uncluttered area without windows where family members and pets could seek shelter on the lowest floor possible. An underground shelter or basement is the safest place to be. If no underground shelter or safe room is available, a small, windowless interior room or hallway on the lowest level of a sturdy building is the safest alternative.

• Assemble an emergency preparedness kit: Pack a first aid kit and a seven-day supply of essential medications, foods that don’t require cooking or refrigeration, bottled water, flashlights, a battery-powered radio with extra batteries, copies of important documents like insurance policies, cell phone chargers, family and emergency contact information, maps of the area and other emergency items for the whole family.
• Heed storm warnings: Listen to local TV and radio stations for updated storm information. People in a severe storm or tornado WATCH area should keep informed and be ready to act if a warning is issued. A severe storm WARNING means severe weather has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar, and that danger to life and property is imminent. Watch for tornado danger signs including dark, often greenish clouds; a cloud of debris; large hail; a funnel cloud or a roaring noise.
• Prepare for high winds: If you have time, secure lawn furniture, outdoor decorations, trash cans, hanging plants and anything else that might be picked up by wind. Make trees more wind resistant by removing diseased or damaged limbs and strategically removing branches so that wind can blow through.

For more information on what to do before, during and after a tornado, please visit redcross.org/prepare/disaster/tornado.

The latest weather conditions can be found on the front page of every Patch.com site in the United States including the 12 New Hampshire Patch news and community websites. Local, four-day weather reports for New Hampshire are posted on Sundays and Thursdays; alerts are posted when needed.