Flood Watch for WNC

I just love the fearlessness in which the National Weather Service experiments with new colors on their maps. (not!) We are under a Flash Flood Watch beginning at 6am, and here are the particulars in that lovely NWS font:

* FROM 6 AM EST THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING

* A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL APPROACH THE AREA FROM THE GULF OF
MEXICO TODAY...RESULTING IN PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY
RAINFALL. STORM TOTAL RAINFALL COULD EXCEED 3 INCHES IN PLACES.
THIS MAY CREATE SOME FLOOD PROBLEMS...PARTICULARLY IN AREA THAT
RECEIVED HEAVY RAINFALL YESTERDAY.

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.

And here is the short term forecast...

432 AM EST THU DEC 11 2008

.NOW...
A LARGE AREA OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN IS ADVANCING NORTH FROM
GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA AND WILL OVERSPREAD WESTERN NORTH
CAROLINA THIS MORNING. RAINFALL AMOUNTS WILL BE A QUARTER TO A
HALF INCH IN AN HOUR AT TIMES. STREAMS AND CREEKS WILL EXPERIENCE
RAPID RISES WHERE THE HEAVIEST RAIN FALLS. PEOPLE WHO ARE
TRAVELING SHOULD DRIVE WITH CAUTION DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR
HYDROPLANING AND RAPID CHANGES IN VISIBILITY.

So, stay safe and away from those flood-prone areas!

As always, please refer to the National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg Office for official weather information.