Watch vs warning › Flash flood watch vs warning
Flash flood watch vs warning
A flash flood watch means conditions look favorable for flash flooding. Be ready. A flash flood warning means dangerous flash flooding is happening or will happen soon. Move to higher ground now.
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Flooding is the hazard where the right move is up and away, not down and inside. Never drive into water.
What the National Weather Service says
Flash Flood Watch
Issued when conditions look favorable for flash flooding.
- Issued by
- Your local National Weather Service forecast office.
- Area covered
- A watch usually encompasses several counties.
- How long it lasts
- The expiration time is written in the alert. Check it there.
Flash Flood Warning
Issued when dangerous flash flooding is happening or will happen soon.
- Issued by
- Your local National Weather Service forecast office.
- Area covered
- A warning is usually a smaller, more specific area.
- How long it lasts
- The expiration time is written in the alert. Check it there.
Flash Flood Emergency
Issued for the exceedingly rare situations when extremely heavy rain is leading to a severe threat to human life.
- Issued by
- Your local National Weather Service forecast office.
- How long it lasts
- The expiration time is written in the alert. Check it there.
Flood Watch
A Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for a specific hazardous weather event to occur. The National Weather Service phrases the action as Be Prepared.
- Issued by
- Your local National Weather Service forecast office.
Flood Warning
A Flood Warning is issued when the hazardous weather event is imminent or already happening. The National Weather Service phrases the action as Take Action.
- Issued by
- Your local National Weather Service forecast office.
Flood Advisory
A Flood Advisory is issued when a specific weather event that is forecast to occur may become a nuisance. The National Weather Service phrases the action as Be Aware.
- Issued by
- Your local National Weather Service forecast office.
Flash floods occur suddenly and usually within hours of excessive heavy rainfall.
A flash flood warning can also be issued for a dam or levee failure, with no rain falling where you are.
Flood and flash flood are different alerts. Flash flooding comes fast. River flooding can rise for days.
What to do
If a flash flood watch is issued
- Work out now where you would go if the water starts to rise. Pick somewhere higher than you are.
- Work out how you would get there without crossing a low spot, a creek crossing, or a road that floods.
- Move your vehicle to higher ground.
- Move anything valuable out of the basement or off the ground floor.
- Turn on the emergency alerts in your phone settings and check your weather radio batteries.
- If you are camping near a creek or river, move to higher ground before dark.
If a flash flood warning is issued
- Move to higher ground now. You may have only minutes.
- Do not drive into water. It is never safe to drive or walk into flood waters.
- Never drive your car into water of unknown depth. Most flash flood deaths happen when people drive their vehicles into flood water.
- Turn around and go another way if water is over the road, even a little water, even a road you drive every day.
- If your vehicle stalls in water, get out right away and move to higher ground.
- Get out of a basement or any low room.
- Stay out of storm drains, ditches, and creek beds.
- Do not go back for belongings.
- Stay on high ground until the warning expires or the National Weather Service cancels it.
Common questions
How fast can a flash flood happen?
Flash floods occur suddenly and usually within hours of excessive heavy rainfall. That is why a flash flood warning means move now rather than watch and wait. A dam or levee failure can also cause one with no warning rain in your area.
Source: www.weather.gov/mob/severe_floodWhat is a flash flood emergency?
A Flash Flood Emergency is issued for the exceedingly rare situations when extremely heavy rain is leading to a severe threat to human life. It is the most serious flood alert the National Weather Service issues. If one is issued for your area, get to high ground immediately and do not drive.
Source: www.weather.gov/mob/severe_floodWhat is the difference between a flood watch and a flash flood warning?
A flood watch or flash flood watch means conditions look favorable for flooding, so work out your plan and where you would go. A flash flood warning means dangerous flash flooding is happening or will happen soon, so move to higher ground now. The watch is your time to prepare. The warning is not.
Source: www.weather.gov/mob/severe_floodCan I drive through a flooded road?
No. It is never safe to drive or walk into flood waters. It takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away most cars and 2 feet to carry away SUVs and trucks, and you cannot see whether the road under the water is still there. Turn around and find another route.
Source: www.weather.gov/safety/flood-turn-around-dont-drownWhat do I do if my car stalls in flood water?
Get out right away and move to higher ground. National Weather Service guidance is to abandon the vehicle immediately, because most flash flood deaths happen when people are in vehicles in flood water. Do not stay in the car to wait it out.
Source: www.weather.gov/mob/severe_floodHow much water it takes
- A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.
- It takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away most cars.
- Just 2 feet of rushing water can carry away SUVs and trucks.
- It is never safe to drive or walk into flood waters.
- You cannot tell how deep water is, or whether the road is still under it, by looking.
How a flash flood alert reaches your phone
Flash Flood Warnings go to cell phones as Wireless Emergency Alerts only when the damage threat is considerable or catastrophic. Other flash flood warnings do not trigger a phone alert.
Flash flood watches never trigger a phone alert. The National Weather Service list of alerts sent to phones contains warnings only.
Flash floods often happen at night, when the phone is the thing people rely on. Keep a weather radio if you live near a creek, a river, or a low road.
Source: www.weather.gov/wrn/weaHow a flash flood alert reaches you without cell service
NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards broadcasts official Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, directly from the nearest National Weather Service office.
It carries flash flood watches as well as warnings. It needs a special radio receiver or scanner.
Source: www.weather.gov/nwr