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AUBURN, Mass. – Don’t let the early afternoon sunshine and calm weather fool you. As Catwoman says in the newest Batman movie: there’s a storm coming.
That’s according to the National Weather Service in Taunton, who has issued a flash flood watch for Southern Worcester County from 4 p.m. today until 8 a.m. on Friday. The weather service is expecting heavy rainfall with thunderstorms late this afternoon and tonight.
Sudden heavy downpours are expected with any thunderstorms, and rainfall of two to four inches is possible within a short period of time. This may result in significant urban and poor drainage flooding, and small streams may also rise out of their banks.
The weather service says that “flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.”
They are advising residents to monitor later forecasts on www.weather.com, and they say that people should be prepared to take action should flash flood warnings be issued.
Here are some safety tips from the Auburn Fire Department:
- When a flash flood warning is issued for your area or the moment you first realize that a flash flood is imminent, act quickly to save yourself. You may have only seconds.
- Get out of areas subject to flooding. This includes dips, low spots, canyons, washes, etc.
- Avoid already flooded and high velocity flow areas. Do not try to cross a flowing stream on foot where water is above your knees.
- If driving, know the depth of the water in a dip before crossing. The road bed may not be intact under the water.
- If the vehicle stalls, abandon it immediately and seek higher ground. Rapidly rising water may engulf the vehicle and its occupants and sweep them away.
- Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers.
- Do not camp or park your vehicle along streams and washes, particularly during threatening conditions.
- During any flood emergency, stay tuned to your NOAA weather radio, commercial radio, or television. Information from the national weather service and disaster and emergency services may save your life.
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