Flash Flood Watches Issued For Hudson Valley

A flash flood watch has been issued for parts of the Hudson Valley. The National Weather Service said the watch is in effect from midnight Friday through 8 a.m. Sunday for Columbia, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Ulster and Westchester counties.

Showers and thunderstorms will develop over the area starting Friday night.

For Columbia, Dutchess and Ulster counties, showers will occur across the watch area from this evening through Saturday night. Some of the showers will be heavy late tonight through Saturday night, with the potential to cause rapid flooding along streams, creeks and other low-lying and poor drainage areas.

For lower Hudson Valley, rain will become locally heavy at times late Friday night, with the potential for locally heavy rainfall continuing into early Sunday morning.

One to 3 inches of rainfall, with locally higher amounts possible, is expected through early Sunday morning.

Rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches an hour are possible at times.

As a result, areas of urban and poor drainage flooding are likely, with flash flooding possible, including of faster responding small creeks and streams.

Flash flooding can be expected in locations that experience successive thunderstorms moving through. With large portions of the Tri-State having received 2 to 5 inches of rainfall over the past two weeks, almost the entire area is vulnerable to flash flooding. This is especially true for small creeks and streams that are already running at above normal levels for this time of year.

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