Upstate under Flash Flood Watch

The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for our area. The first of several waves of low pressure moving along a stalled front near the area has spread showers and embedded thunderstorms across the region overnight. Additional rounds of moderate to heavy rain, with embedded thunderstorms, can be expected through the day today. This is expected to result in an increasing risk for flash flooding along smaller streams and creeks, as well as in the headwaters of some main stem rivers. The Flash Flood Watch is now in effect for portions of northeast Georgia, western North Carolina, and Upstate South Carolina, including the following areas; in Northeast Georgia, Elbert, Franklin, Hart, and Stephens; in Western North Carolina, Eastern Polk, Henderson, Polk Mountains, and Transylvania; and in Upstate South Carolina, Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Chester, Greater Greenville, Greater Oconee, Greater Pickens, Greenville Mountains, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee Mountains, Pickens Mountains, Spartanburg, Union, and York; through late tonight. Due to the widespread rain that fell over much of this area this weekend, the ground is near saturation, and stream levels are already running above normal. It will not take much additional rainfall to produce flash flooding along smaller creeks and streams, as well as the headwaters of some main stem rivers. Main stem rivers and their larger tributaries will also rise gradually, and some minor flooding will be possible along these streams by mid-week. A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead
to flash flooding, which is a very dangerous situation. You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.