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What Is A Flash Flood Watch and Warning?
May 20, 2026 at 03:31 AM EDT
By WeatherBug Meteorologists
A Flash Flood Watch is issued when flash flooding conditions -- a rapid and extreme flow of high water into a normally dry area or a rapid water level rise in a body of water due to intense rainfall, dam failure or ice jam -- are favorable.
A Flash Flood Warning is issued when flash flooding is occurring or imminent.
Residents living in low-lying areas or near a body or water should listen to the local radio and TV stations for continuous updates. If told to evacuate, do so as soon as possible.
Safety tips:
- Avoid walking through floodwater - swiftly moving water 6 inches can sweep you off your feet.
- Do not drive through flooded areas; it only takes 2 feet of water to carry away most automobiles.
- If the car stalls while in the water abandon the car and find higher ground. "Turn Around, Don`t Drown."\
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Source: National Weather Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency
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Image caption: Heavy rain produces flooding on Sunset Boulevard in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., in early February 2016. (Courtesy of a WeatherBug user)