The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for portions of central New York and northeast Pennsylvania from  5 p.m. April 19 to 11 a.m. April 20.

WNBF News/Roger Neel Photo
WNBF News/Roger Neel Photo
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The Watch includes the following areas, in central New York: Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego and Tioga counties. In northeast Pennsylvania, Bradford, Wayne and Susquehanna counties are included in the Watch area from Good Friday afternoon through Saturday morning.

NOAA says a period of heavy rain with embedded thunderstorms is expected to impact the area during the start of the weekend.

Rainfall rates could locally approach or exceed one half inch per hour at times. Storm total rainfall of 1 to 2 inches, with locally higher amounts are forecast in the watch area.

According to officials, the combination of wet soils and a heavy amount of rain in a short period of time could result in minor flooding along creeks and the headwater points in the local river basins. Flooding could also occur on across low lying roadways, urban and poor drainage areas.

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.

Motorists should also be aware of reduced visibility during heavy rain and thunderstorms and sudden pooling of water on roads and flooding in poor drainage areas.

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

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