Greater Binghamton Under Flood Watch: Should You Be Worried?

For a lot of people in the greater Binghamton area, hearing someone say "flood watch" is scary and it should be as this area has gone through with major flooding that left homes and businesses destroyed.  The greater Binghamton area is once again under a flood watch and the big question is "should I be worried?"

The answer is mixed.  There's nothing to panic about, but you probably should be aware that there could be some minor flooding. A flood watch is in effect from 8am Thursday to 8am Friday.

According to our friends at WNBG, 1.5 to 3 inches of rain is expected across the area with the highest amounts across Northeast Pennsylvania, all of the Southern Tier, and the western Catskills.

Meteorologist Greg Pollak tells us that major flooding is not expected, but we could see some minor flooding with a slight chance of moderate flooding.  If you live by a creek or stream you might want to keep an eye on them.  Also keep in mind that water on the roads could get deep, so if you see big puddles on the roads, you'll want to avoid driving through them.

The good news is that most of the heavy rain will be over with by late tonight, however we'll still see a chance for a couple of rain showers Friday.

What’s the difference between a flood/flash flood watch and a flood/flash flood warning?

•  A flood or flash flood watch means that flooding or flash flooding is possible.
•  A flood or flash flood warning means that flooding or flash flooding is already happening.

Thanks to WBNG Meteorologist Howard Manges for this explanation on understanding how to read our local river level forecast:

It's never a bad thing to be prepared just in case. So, here are some things to keep in mind with a lot of rain expected:

• Be prepared! Pack a bag with important items in case electric goes out or you need to unexpectedly travel. Don't forget to include you meds.
• If possible, bring in outdoor furniture and other things that could blow away  if the winds pick up.
• Don't walk through moving water. As little as 6 inches of moving water can make you fall.
• If you have to walk in water, wherever possible, walk where the water is not moving.
• Do not drive into big puddles on the road. Most cars can be swept away by less than two feet of moving water.
• Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.
• If the flood/flash flood watch is upgraded to a warning and you live in a flood prone area, head for higher ground and stay there.
• Keep kids out of the water.  They might be curious and want to play, but they rick being swept away or drowned.
• Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to navigate flooded roadways.