Last night, the New York Office of Emergency Management, along with the National Weather Service offices in Albany and Binghamton, issued a high wind warning and a flood watch for the next 48 hours for all five counties in the Catskills region.
Arthur R. Snyder, the director of Ulster County Emergency Communication, sent us a concise explanation of what those warnings mean:
A brief update from Weather Service offices in Albany and Binghamton as well as the NYS Office of Emergency Management: A Flood Watch has been issued from Monday afternoon through Tuesday night. The weather service is consistent with their 1-2 inches of rain for valley locations, but north facing mountain slopes can expect up to 6".
A High Wind Watch has been issued from Monday morning through late Monday night. Winds of 30-40 MPH with 60 MPH gusts in the valleys, 70 MPH in the mountains can be expected.
For the full forecasts, here are the text of the alerts from NY-Alert.
From NWS Binghamton:
High Wind Warning issued October 28 at 4:19AM EDT until October 30 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Binghamton
Activation Time: 10/28/12 4:19 AM
Expiration Time: 10/28/12 12:30 PM
Issued By: NWS Binghamton (South Central New York and Northeastern Pennsylvania)
Affected Jurisdictions: Broome County (All)
Cayuga County (All)
Chemung County (All)
Chenango County (All)
Cortland County (All)
Delaware County (All)
Madison County (All)
Oneida County (All)
Onondaga County (All)
Otsego County (All)
Schuyler County (All)
Seneca County (All)
Steuben County (All)
Sullivan County (All)
Tioga County (All)
Tompkins County (All)
Yates County (All)
Cayuga County (All)
Chemung County (All)
Chenango County (All)
Cortland County (All)
Delaware County (All)
Madison County (All)
Oneida County (All)
Onondaga County (All)
Otsego County (All)
Schuyler County (All)
Seneca County (All)
Steuben County (All)
Sullivan County (All)
Tioga County (All)
Tompkins County (All)
Yates County (All)
Description: ...Damaging Winds Are Expected Monday And Tuesday... ...High Wind Warning In Effect From 2 PM Monday To 5 PM EDT Tuesday... The National Weather Service In Binghamton Has Issued A High Wind Warning...Which Is In Effect From 2 PM Monday To 5 PM EDT Tuesday. The High Wind Watch Is No Longer In Effect. * Locations...All Of Central New York And Northeast Pennsylvania. * Winds...Sustained Winds Of 30 To 40 Mph With Gusts As High As 50 To 60 Mph... Especially Over Higher Terrain. * Timing...Winds Will Increase Monday Morning And Continue Through Tuesday Evening. * Impacts...Winds Of This Magnitude Will Cause Widespread Prolonged Power Outages. The Strong Winds Will Also Cause Trees To Fall Resulting In Property Damage And Closed Roads.
Instructions: A High Wind Warning Is Issued When Sustained Winds Of 40 Mph Are Expected For At Least An Hour...With Frequent Gusts Of 50 Mph Or Greater. Damage To Trees...Power Lines...And Property Are Possible With Winds Of This Magnitude. Be Prepared For The Possibility Of Trees Blocking Roads And Widespread Power Outages. At Home...You Should Be Prepared To Be Without Power For Several Days. Make Sure You Have Adequate Supplies Of Food And Medicine. Please Report Damage To The National Weather Service By Calling Toll Free At 1-877-633-6772...Or By Email At Bgm.Stormreport@Noaa.Gov.
(CONTINUATION) Flood Watch issued October 28 at 4:25AM EDT until October 30 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Binghamton
Activation Time: 10/28/12 4:25 AM
Expiration Time: 10/28/12 12:30 PM
Issued By: NWS Binghamton (South Central New York and Northeastern Pennsylvania)
Affected Jurisdictions: Broome County (All)
Cayuga County (All)
Chemung County (All)
Chenango County (All)
Cortland County (All)
Delaware County (All)
Otsego County (All)
Schuyler County (All)
Seneca County (All)
Steuben County (All)
Sullivan County (All)
Tioga County (All)
Tompkins County (All)
Yates County (All)
Cayuga County (All)
Chemung County (All)
Chenango County (All)
Cortland County (All)
Delaware County (All)
Otsego County (All)
Schuyler County (All)
Seneca County (All)
Steuben County (All)
Sullivan County (All)
Tioga County (All)
Tompkins County (All)
Yates County (All)
Description: ...Heavy Rain From Hurricane Sandy Is Expected To Hit The Area... .Hurricane Sandy Is Moving Northward Along The East Coast And Is Expected To Turn Westward To Landfall Along The New Jersey Coast Monday...Before Entering Central Pennsylvania Early Tuesday. Bands Of Heavy Rain Associated With The Storm Will Move Across The Watch Area Monday Through Tuesday. ...Flood Watch Remains In Effect From Monday Morning Through Tuesday Evening... The Flood Watch Continues For * Portions Of New York And Northeast Pennsylvania...Including The Following Counties...In New York...Broome...Chemung... Chenango...Cortland...Delaware...Otsego...Schuyler...Seneca... Southern Cayuga...Steuben...Sullivan...Tioga...Tompkins And Yates. In Northeast Pennsylvania...Bradford...Lackawanna... Luzerne...Northern Wayne...Pike...Southern Wayne...Susquehanna And Wyoming. * From Monday Morning Through Tuesday Evening * Heavy Rain From The Land Falling Hurricane Sandy Will Begin Monday And Continue Into Wednesday. * Rainfall Totals Averaging 1 To 3 Inches Are Expected Across The Watch Area... With Locally Higher Amounts Possible. Heavy Rain May Cause Flooding Of Small Streams And Urban Areas. Prolonged Heavy Rain Will Cause Rises On Area Rivers And May Cause Minor To Moderate Flooding Beginning Tuesday.
Instructions: A Flood Watch Means There Is The Potential For Flooding On Rivers...Small Streams...Creeks...Poor Drainage...Urban And Low- Lying Areas Based On Current Forecasts. You Should Monitor Later Forecasts And Be Alert For Possible Flood Warnings. Those Living...Working Or Driving In Areas Prone To Flooding Should Be Prepared To Take Action Should Flooding Develop.
From NWS Albany:
Activation Time: 10/28/12 4:25 AM
Expiration Time: 10/28/12 12:30 PM
Issued By: NWS Albany (Eastern New York and Western New England)
Affected Jurisdictions: Albany County (All)
Columbia County (All)
Dutchess County (All)
Greene County (All)
Montgomery County (All)
Rensselaer County (All)
Saratoga County (All)
Schenectady County (All)
Schoharie County (All)
Ulster County (All)
Warren County (All)
Washington County (All)
Columbia County (All)
Dutchess County (All)
Greene County (All)
Montgomery County (All)
Rensselaer County (All)
Saratoga County (All)
Schenectady County (All)
Schoharie County (All)
Ulster County (All)
Warren County (All)
Washington County (All)
Description: ...Flood Watch Remains In Effect From Monday Afternoon Through Late Tuesday Night... The Flood Watch Continues For * Portions Of Northwestern Connecticut...Western Massachusetts... East Central New York And Southern Vermont...Including The Following Areas...In Northwestern Connecticut...Northern Litchfield And Southern Litchfield. In Western Massachusetts... Northern Berkshire And Southern Berkshire. In East Central New York...Eastern Albany...Eastern Columbia...Eastern Dutchess... Eastern Greene...Eastern Rensselaer...Eastern Schenectady... Eastern Ulster...Montgomery...Northern Saratoga...Northern Warren...Northern Washington...Schoharie... Southeast Warren... Southern Saratoga...Southern Washington... Western Albany... Western Columbia...Western Dutchess... Western Greene...Western Rensselaer...Western Schenectady And Western Ulster. In Southern Vermont...Bennington...Eastern Windham And Western Windham. * From Monday Afternoon Through Late Tuesday Night. * A Powerful Coastal Storm Resulting From Hurricane Sandy Will Affect The Area With Heavy Rainfall From Monday Through Tuesday Night. Total Rainfall Amounts Are Generally Expected To Be 2 To 4 Inches Across The Higher Terrain Of The Southeast Adirondacks...Southern Green Mountains Of Vermont...Berkshires...And Litchfield Hills...With Up To 6 Inches Possible Across Northeast Facing Slopes Of The Catskills. Valley Locations Such As The Mohawk And Hudson Valleys Can Expect Around 1 To Locally 2 Inches Of Rainfall. * Runoff From The Heavy Rainfall Could Lead To Flooding Of Main Stem Rivers...Streams...And Poor Drainage Locations. Tidal Flooding Is Possible Along The Hudson River From Poughkeepsie Northward To Albany. Leaves May Clog Storm Drains...Which Could Cause Additional Flood Problems. If Heavy Rain Falls Within A Shorter Amount Of Time...There Would Be A Risk Of Isolated Flash Flooding As Well.
Instructions: A Flood Watch Means There Is A Potential For Flooding Based On Current Forecasts. You Should Monitor Later Forecasts And Be Alert For Possible Flood Warnings. Those Living In Areas Prone To Flooding Should Be Prepared To Take Action Should Flooding Develop.
High Wind Warning issued October 28 at 4:23AM EDT until October 30 at 6:00AM EDT by NWS Albany
Activation Time: 10/28/12 4:23 AM
Expiration Time: 10/28/12 12:30 PM
Issued By: NWS Albany (Eastern New York and Western New England)
Affected Jurisdictions: Albany County (All)
Columbia County (All)
Dutchess County (All)
Fulton County (All)
Greene County (All)
Hamilton County (All)
Herkimer County (All)
Montgomery County (All)
Rensselaer County (All)
Saratoga County (All)
Schenectady County (All)
Schoharie County (All)
Ulster County (All)
Warren County (All)
Washington County (All)
Columbia County (All)
Dutchess County (All)
Fulton County (All)
Greene County (All)
Hamilton County (All)
Herkimer County (All)
Montgomery County (All)
Rensselaer County (All)
Saratoga County (All)
Schenectady County (All)
Schoharie County (All)
Ulster County (All)
Warren County (All)
Washington County (All)
Description: ...High Wind Warning In Effect From 6 AM Monday To 11 AM EDT Tuesday... The National Weather Service In Albany Has Issued A High Wind Warning...Which Is In Effect From 6 AM Monday To 11 AM EDT Tuesday. The High Wind Watch Is No Longer In Effect. * Locations...All Of East Central New York And Adjacent Western New England. * Hazards...Strong And Damaging Winds. * Winds...Northeast 30 To 40 Mph With Gusts Up To 60 Mph In Valley Locations And Up To 75 Mph Across The Higher Terrain. * Timing...Strong Wind Gusts Will Pick Up Monday Morning And Will Continue Until Tuesday Morning. The Most Significant Gusts Will Likely Occur Between Monday Evening And Midnight On Monday Night. * Impacts...Strong Winds Will Likely Bring Down Trees And Powerlines...With Widespread Power Outages Possible. These Downed Trees May Impede Travel. Also Any Loose Objects Can Easily Be Propelled With The Strength Of The Expected Wind. Some Damage To Poorly Made Structures Is Possible Across Portions Of The High Terrain.
Instructions: A High Wind Warning Means A Hazardous High Wind Event Is Expected Or Occurring. Sustained Wind Speeds Of At Least 40 Mph Or Gusts Of 58 Mph Or More Can Lead To Property Damage.
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