Flash Flood Guidance and Drought Information

[Spring Flood Potential] [Flash Flood Guidance] [Headwater Flood Guidance] [Drought Info]

Spring Flood Potential Statement

Throughout the winter, the MARFC issues Spring Flood Potential Statements, which describe the possibility of Spring flooding, based on current hydrologic conditions.

Here are the statements issued in 2009:

08 January 2009

Flash Flood Guidance

Flash Flood Guidance (FFG) provides a general indication of the amount of rainfall evenly distributed over various durations (in hours), necessary to cause small streams to overflow their natural banks. During heavy rainfall, accurate interpretation of the guidance consists of the combination of rainfall that has already occurred plus any additional rainfall that can be confidently expected to fall over the same location in the immediate future.

It should be noted that FFG values represent an estimate of average soil moisture and stream flow conditions in a given county. Flooding may occur with less rainfall than indicated in areas where recent rain has been locally heavier. In addition, during prolonged dry spells, soils may temporarily have impervious characteristics at the onset of heavy rain, resulting in extra runoff and possible flooding from lower rainfall amounts than those indicated by the FFG.

The daily flash flood guidance values as calculated by the MARFC are listed below.

Here are the TEXT versions:

	Delaware
	Maryland
	New Jersey
	New York
	Pennsylvania
	Virginia	(please note that the Ohio RFC also issues Flash Flood Guidance using this product ID. Please use the "Previous Version" link if needed)
	West Virginia

Here are the GRAPHICAL versions. Adjacent RFC county flash flood guidance values will also be shown if they are available at the time of the map generation.

	1 hour guidance
	3 hour guidance
	6 hour guidance
	12 hour guidance

Headwater Flood Guidance

Headwater Flood Guidance depicts the approximate rainfall evenly distributed over various durations to cause selected streams to reach official NWS flood stage (may not necessarily coincide with the natural bank) at U. S. Geological Survey gauging stations. As with Flash Flood Guidance, these values are intended as general guidance.

	New Jersey streams
	Susquehanna and Delaware Basin streams
	James and Potomac Basin streams

Drought Information

Check the latest Drought Statement from each of the following Weather Forecast Offices.  These statements are issued only during drought conditions:

	Binghamton, NY
	Blacksburg, VA
	Brookhaven, NY
	Philadelphia/Mt. Holly, NJ
	State College, PA
	Wakefield, VA
	Baltimore/Washington, DC

For additional drought information, please see NOAA's Drought Information Center page.

Check the latest Drought Monitor map.

Check the latest Palmer Drought Index map from the Climate Prediction Center.

[Spring Flood Potential] [Flash Flood Guidance] [Headwater Flood Guidance] [Drought Info]