[emo-news] Continuing to monitor Ernesto

[Emergency Management News - Norwich, NY]

The Norwich Emergency Management Office is continuing to monitor the progress of Ernesto and it's potential impact on our area.  We participated in conference calls with the National Weather Service today to get the latest information on this storm.  At the present time, the forecast track is for Ernesto to move into Western New York, sparring us a direct hit.  Still, this forecast is very uncertain.  Even if the forecast track holds true, we can expect a widespread 1" to 2" rainfall.  If the track is further east, and we get the brunt of the storm, there is the potential for 3+ inch amounts.  

Due to the heavy rain earlier this week, we are valnurable for flash flooding with 2-inches or more.  Any more rain than that would likely cause more serious flooding.

With the uncertainty of this storm, and the potential for flooding, the time to make preparations is now.  Do not wait until the last minute.  If you live in a flood prone area, you should monitor NOAA Weather Radio or your local radio or television station for the latest information and possible warnings.  As a reminder, you can listen to NOAA Weather Radio on Norwich cable channel 5.

Below is the latest public update on the storm from the National Weather Service:
 
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NY
444 PM EDT THU AUG 31 2006

...TROPICAL RAINFALL IS LIKELY THIS WEEKEND WITH FLOODING POSSIBLE...

TROPICAL STORM ERNESTO WAS LOCATED OFF THE SOUTH CAROLINA AND
GEORGIA COASTLINE AS OF LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON. ERNESTO IS
EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL IN THE CAROLINAS LATER TONIGHT...AND
THEN CONTINUE MOVING NORTH INTO VIRGINIA ON FRIDAY. THE REMNANTS
OF ERNESTO ARE THEN FORECAST TO MOVE TOWARD THE NORTHWEST...AND
PASS THROUGH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA AND WEST CENTRAL NEW YORK ON
SATURDAY.

THE LATEST FORECASTS INDICATE RAIN WILL REACH THE TWIN TIERS LATE
FRIDAY NIGHT...AND OVERSPREAD THE REMAINDER OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
DURING SATURDAY. AREAS OF HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER THE
WEEKEND...MAINLY ON SATURDAY. CENTRAL NEW YORK AND NORTHEAST
PENNSYLVANIA RIVER LEVELS AND GROUND MOISTURE CONDITIONS ARE
CONSIDERABLY ABOVE NORMAL DUE TO PERIODIC HEAVY RAINS THROUGHOUT
THE SUMMER. CURRENT PROJECTIONS INDICATE A WIDESPREAD 1 TO 2 INCH
RAINFALL...WITH AREAS OF 3 INCHES POSSIBLE. THIS COULD INITIATE
FLOODING...ESPECIALLY ON SMALLER STREAMS...AND THE FASTER
RESPONDING HEADWATERS OF THE MAIN STEM RIVERS. RAINFALL IN EXCESS
OF 3 INCHES WOULD CAUSE MORE WIDESPREAD FLOODING PROBLEMS.

IN ADDITION TO THE RAINFALL CONCERN...STRONG WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO
DEVELOP ON SATURDAY AS THE REMNANTS OF ERNESTO/S LOW PRESSURE
MOVES THROUGH THE REGION. EAST AND SOUTHEAST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO
BLOW AT 15 TO 25 MPH OVER MUCH OF THE REGION WITH WIND GUSTS TO 40
MPH POSSIBLE ACROSS THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS AND IN THE MOHAWK VALLEY.
THE COMBINATION OF WET GROUND AND STRONG WINDS MAY DOWN TREES AND
CAUSE POWER OUTAGES.

CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY STILL EXISTS WITH THE EVOLUTION OF THIS
STORM.  PERSONS LIVING ALONG RIVERS AND STREAMS SHOULD CLOSELY
MONITOR WEATHER AND RIVER FORECASTS THROUGH THE WEEKEND. FLOOD
WATCHES FOR PARTS OF THE REGION WILL PROBABLY BE ISSUED ON FRIDAY.
FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION...STAY TUNED TO NOAA ALL HAZARDS WEATHER
RADIO...OR VISIT YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEB PAGE AT,
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BINGHAMTON.


$$

JAB
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