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817 

RWUS31 KBOS 211619

FFSBOS

CTZ002>004-MAZ005>007-011>019-RIZ001>004-006-220330-



BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

FLOOD STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA

1058 AM EST WED MAR 21 2001



...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS EXPANDED THE FLOOD WATCH FOR 

THURSDAY AND IT NOW INCLUDES NORTHERN CONNECTICUT...MUCH OF RHODE 

ISLAND AND PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...



THIS FLOOD WATCH NOW INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...



IN MASSACHUSETTS

     ESSEX...EASTERN HAMPDEN...SOUTHERN WORCESTER...MIDDLESEX

     NORFOLK...EASTERN PLYMOUTH...WESTERN PLYMOUTH...NORTHERN

     BRISTOL...SUFFOLK



IN CONNECTICUT

     HARTFORD...TOLLAND...WINDHAM



IN RHODE ISLAND

     KENT...PROVIDENCE...WASHINGTON



RIVER AND STREAM FLOWS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE 

NORMAL ACROSS THE WATCH AREA...DUE TO MELTING SNOW DURING THE PAST 

FEW DAYS.  HEAVY RAIN EXPECTED LATE TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY COULD 

LEAD TO FLOODING ON SMALL RIVERS AND STREAMS ON THURSDAY.



IT WILL TAKE ABOUT 2 TO 2.5 INCHES OF RAIN OR COMBINED RAINFALL AND 

SNOWMELT TO PRODUCE MINOR FLOODING ON MANY SMALLER RIVERS AND 

STREAMS.  RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES ARE PREDICTED BY LATE 

THURSDAY ACROSS RHODE ISLAND AND EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS.  ACROSS 

NORTHERN CONNECTICUT AND SOUTH CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS...1 TO 2 INCHES 

OF RAINFALL IS EXPECTED.  ADDITIONAL RUNOFF IS EXPECTED FROM 

SNOWMELT ACROSS THE INTERIOR WHERE 2 TO 3 INCHES OF WATER REMAINS IN 

THE SNOWPACK.  



SMALL STREAMS WILL BEGIN TO SEE SIGNIFICANT RISES THURSDAY MORNING 

AS THE HEAVY RAINS OCCUR.  LARGER RIVERS...INCLUDING THE BLACKSTONE

...FARMINGTON...CHARLES...NEPONSET...SUDBURY...ASSABET AND SHAWSHEEN 

WILL SEE SIGNIFICANT RISES THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT. 



THOSE WITH INTERESTS ALONG FLOOD PRONE RIVERS AND STREAMS SHOULD 

TAKE TIME NOW TO PROTECT PROPERTY FROM THE THREAT OF FLOODING.  IN 

ADDITION...DAM OWNERS MAY WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ENSURE THAT 

SPILLWAYS ARE CLEAR OF DEBRIS.



THE COMBINATION OF MELTING SNOWS AND EXPECTED HEAVY RAINS COULD LEAD 

TO FLOODING ALONG RIVERS AND STREAMS IN THE WATCH AREA.  SHOULD 

FLOODING BECOME MORE CERTAIN...FLOOD WARNINGS WILL BE ISSUED.  



STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR 

THE LATEST ON THIS POTENTIAL FLOOD EVENT.



$$



AED/DRV

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