Manchester, New Hampshire

... Flood Watch now in effect from this evening through Monday
morning...

The Flood Watch is now in effect for

* portions of Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire...
including the following areas... in Massachusetts... central
Middlesex MA... eastern Essex MA... eastern Franklin MA...
eastern Hampden MA... eastern Hampshire MA... eastern Norfolk
MA... eastern Plymouth MA... northern Bristol MA... northern
Middlesex MA... northern Worcester MA... southeast Middlesex
MA... southern Bristol MA... southern Plymouth MA... southern
Worcester MA... Suffolk MA... western Essex MA... western
Franklin MA... western Hampden MA... western Hampshire MA...
western Norfolk MA and western Plymouth MA. In southern New
Hampshire... Cheshire NH... eastern Hillsborough NH and western
and central Hillsborough NH.

* From this evening through Monday morning

* one of the heaviest widespread single storm long duration rain
events since Spring 2006 appears imminent... especially for eastern
Massachusetts... the east slopes of both the Worcester Hills and
berkshire's into parts of Hillsborough County.

* Three to possibly as much as 6 inches of wind swept rain is
forecast for eastern Massachusetts to near Nashua New Hampshire
with 2 to 4 inches elsewhere in the watch area. There is high
probability of rainfall exceeding 4 inches along the Interstate 95
corridor of Massachusetts.

* Urban and poor-drainage flooding will likely make some flood prone
roadways impassable. Small streams and rivers will likely respond
strongly as well... and could exceed bank-full levels. In
addition... due to the saturated grounds... basement flooding could
be experienced as well as scattered power outages from uprooted
trees in the rain softened ground.

* Runoff from snow melt in the hills is an unknown wild card since
temperatures will be just above freezing throughout the storm.

* Rain or mixed precipitation will taper off Monday.

* So while the bulk of the rain will have occurred by Sunday
evening... additional rainfall Sunday night and Monday will
contribute to further runoff response on the larger rivers.

* For now... there seems to be a moderate to high probability for a
repeat episode of the late February flooding but unexpected changes
in the amounts will produce differing results.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A Flood Watch means there is a potential for flooding based on
current forecasts.

You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible
flood warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be
prepared to take action should flooding develop.