A widespread soaking rain is moving into the region and will
continue through tonight. Warm temperatures will melt some of the
snowpack, raising streamflows. Cold air on the backside of the
system will slow runoff on Thursday and end overland flooding,
however, river responses could last through the end of the week.
* WHAT…Flooding caused by heavy rain, snowmelt, and ice jams is
possible.
* WHERE…Portions of Maine, including the following areas,
Androscoggin, Central Interior Cumberland, Central Somerset,
Coastal Cumberland, Coastal Waldo, Coastal York, Interior
Cumberland Highlands, Interior Waldo, Interior York, Kennebec,
Knox, Lincoln, Northern Franklin, Northern Oxford, Sagadahoc,
Southern Franklin, Southern Oxford and Southern Somerset and New
Hampshire, including the following areas, Belknap, Cheshire,
Eastern Hillsborough, Interior Rockingham, Merrimack, Northern
Carroll, Northern Coos, Northern Grafton, Southern Carroll,
Southern Coos, Southern Grafton, Strafford, Sullivan and Western
And Central Hillsborough.
* WHEN…From 1 PM EST this afternoon through Thursday morning.
* IMPACTS…Heavy rainfall rates in combination with snowmelt late
tonight could trigger flash flood conditions. The area of
greatest concern is in the foothills where the combination of rain
and snowmelt will be highest. In the mountains the colder and
drier snowpack will limit the flood extent, but isolated ice jams
and rapid runoff from area hills could cause localized flooding.
Rapid rises in small streams is likely.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…
– A soaking rain of 2 to 3 inches is possible through early
Thursday morning. Snowmelt will contribute to the runoff
mainly in the foothills. Additionally there are concerns of
shifting river ice in the north.