

“Severe Weather Awareness Week” for the state of Alabama (Tennessee does this program later this month) rolls right along on this Wednesday, and today’s topic from NWS Huntsville is a weather hazard we face in the Tennessee Valley that may not always get the attention or respect that it deserves: flooding. On average, flooding is the most deadly storm-related weather hazard in the United States every year… even beating out lightning, on average, and tornadoes and hurricanes unless there is a big headline disaster. Flooding hazards can arise from several different ways, ranging from heavy rainfall from tropical systems to prolonged rainfall leading to rises in water levels of rivers and area waterways to rapid water rises with flash flooding from a stalled thunderstorm cluster to a rapid water rise from a dam break of levee failure. Flash flooding is the type of flooding that happens more quickly from a rapid rise and fall of water from heavy amounts of rainfall in a short amount of time or from the failure of a dam or other similar structure. “Flooding” in general that can be mentioned in a forecast is a slower rise in water levels that usually happens along rivers, creeks, streams, and other water bodies or just a slower aerial type flooding that sticks around after more rapid water rises earlier on from flash flooding.
Flooding is especially dangerous to people who are driving. It only takes 6 inches of moving water to sweep most passenger size vehicles off a roadway! Flooding is especially dangerous at night because it’s much harder to see flood waters until you’re right up on them, and it’s often impossible to tell if the road surface is even still there under the flood waters. Day or night, don’t take the chance of driving into a flooded area. As the NWS mantra has been for a long time now, when coming upon a flooded area, “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!”

Flooding is not just a hazard while you are driving. You must think about preparation for flooding at your home or business also if you live in a normally flood-prone area or if you live in a generally low-lying area near a body of water. Do simple things like making sure your insurance covers flooding and make sure your policy is up to date, clearing storm drains near your property of any loose debris which may not allow water to flow naturally and escape, and taking other basic steps to protect your property from flooding are key.
When heavy rain or flooding is in the forecast, it is important to stay updated with fresh weather information and be prepared to act quickly if you come under a threat. Flooding situations can evolve very rapidly, leaving you little time to prepare and react ahead of time. A Flood Watch means that you need to BE PREPARED for flooding or flash flooding conditions because they are POSSIBLE for the duration of time the watch is in effect. Make sure your safety plan is in place if you’re in a flood-prone area or you may be traveling through a flood-prone region. Monitor weather closely for warnings. A warning means that flooding is either happening now or is likely to happen very soon. It is your cue to act NOW to protect yourself if you are at threat. A Flash Flood Warning will be issued for specific flash flood threats over a shorter period of time that may happen much more rapidly. A Flood Warning will be for flooding conditions that are larger scale in nature and may evolve a little more slowly and hang around for a longer period of time.
