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RWUS32 KBOS 232043

FFSBOS

MAZ005>007-013>019-RIZ001>004-240600-



URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

FLOOD STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA

345 PM EST FRI MAR 23 2001



...FLOODING OF SMALL RIVERS AND STREAMS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH

TONIGHT OR SATURDAY IN NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND AND MUCH OF EASTERN 

MASSACHUSETTS...



FLOOD WARNINGS REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR ESSEX...MIDDLESEX...NORFOLK...

SUFFOLK AND PLYMOUTH COUNTIES IN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS.  THE WARNING 

HAS EXPIRED FOR BRISTOL COUNTY.



FLOOD WARNINGS ALSO REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR KENT AND PROVIDENCE 

COUNTIES IN RHODE ISLAND.



RISES CONTINUE TO BE SEEN ON A FEW SMALL RIVERS IN EASTERN 

MASSACHUSETTS...BUT MOST HAVE CRESTED.  RIVER AND STREAM FLOWS 

REMAIN HIGH HOWEVER...AND IT WILL STILL TAKE UNTIL LATE TONIGHT OR 

SATURDAY FOR FLOODING TO SUBSIDE...ESPECIALLY IN THE MERRIMACK 

VALLEY.



ALTHOUGH URBAN FLOODING WILL CONTINUE TO EASE...THERE WILL STILL BE 

LOCALIZED STREET AND POOR DRAINAGE FLOODING INTO SATURDAY.  AVOID

FLOODED AREAS AND OBEY ROAD CLOSURES.



...ESSEX AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES...

THE SPICKET RIVER AT METHUEN WAS AT A STAGE OF 8.7 FEET AT 3 PM...

ABOVE ITS FLOOD STAGE OF 7.5 FEET.  IT IS FORECAST TO CREST LATE 

TONIGHT OR EARLY SATURDAY BETWEEN 9 AND 9.5 FEET...BUT WILL LIKELY 

REMAIN IN FLOOD THROUGH THE DAY SATURDAY.



THE IPSWICH RIVER AT IPSWICH WAS AT A STAGE OF 7.8 FEET AT 3 PM...

ABOVE ITS FLOOD STAGE OF 7 FEET.  IT IS EXPECTED TO CREST JUST OVER

8 FEET LATE TONIGHT...BUT REMAIN IN FLOOD THROUGH SATURDAY.



OTHER SMALL RIVERS AND STREAMS HAVE CRESTED AND WERE RECEDING...

INCLUDING THE ABERJONA...BUT WILL REMAIN ABOVE FLOOD STAGE INTO 

SATURDAY.



RESIDENTS OF NORTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS SHOULD CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE 

ADVICE OF LOCAL OFFICIALS...AND EVACUATE IF YOU ARE ASKED TO DO SO.



...NORFOLK SUFFOLK BRISTOL AND PLYMOUTH COUNTIES...

THE WADING RIVER HAS CRESTED AND HAD FALLEN JUST BELOW FLOOD STAGE...

SO THE FLOOD WARNING FOR BRISTOL COUNTY HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.



MOST TRIBUTARIES TO THE CHARLES AND NEPONSET RIVERS HAVE CRESTED AND 

WERE RECEDING...BUT WILL REMAIN IN FLOOD THROUGH TONIGHT.  IN

PLYMOUTH COUNTY...THE TAUNTON RIVER AT BRIDGEWATER IS EXPECTED TO 

CREST SATURDAY MORNING.  



...PROVIDENCE AND KENT COUNTIES...

TRIBUTARIES TO THE BLACKSTONE RIVER HAVE CRESTED AND WERE RECEDING...

BUT WILL REMAIN IN FLOOD TONIGHT.  THE PAWTUXET RIVER WILL CONTINUE 

TO RECEDE...AND IS EXPECTED TO FALL BELOW FLOOD STAGE LATE TONIGHT.



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

INFORMATION.



$$



JWD

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