Eagle Times Staff
The National Weather Service is warning residents in both New Hampshire and Vermont to be prepared for more flooding.
On Saturday morning, Flood Watches were in effect for all of New Hampshire and Vermont outside the Champlain Valley. An even higher state of alert, a Flood Warning, was issued for Vermonters along Otter Creek in Central Rutland and Middlebury where minor flooding was forecast.
The watches are in place through 6 a.m. Monday.
While the watches are in place statewide, the Weather Service says the threat of flash floods will be localized due to slow moving or repeated downpours over already saturated soils.
The cumulative runoff over the weekend will likely cause some rivers to rise, especially those that remain elevated from recent events.
It is too early to identify which rivers will come out of banks, so interests near rivers and streams that are prone to flooding should continue to monitor updated river forecasts over the weekend.
“Sunday, however, is going to be the worst day,” said National Weather Service Meteorologist Stephen Baron in Gray, Maine.
Confidence is increasing, forecasters said, that some areas could see considerable impacts from flash flooding as a result of widespread heavy rainfall.
While he didn’t expected the storms to be of the same magnitude as the rains that hit Vermont just days ago, conditions are prime for flooding, he said.
“The biggest threat is going to be the persistent round of heavy rains. Rivers and streams are already running high,” he said.
Residents are urged to listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov for more information.
Current indications suggest rainfall amounts in the 1 to 2 inch range, but locally higher amounts are possible, the service said.
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