Re: FLASH FLOOD WATCHES

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u n Urgent-NWS_SGX-FLOOD_WAT 01/08 392
FLOOD WATCH FOR FLASH FLOODING REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
1000 PM PST SAT JAN 8 2005

...FLOOD WATCH FOR FLASH FLOODING REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH
TUESDAY AFTERNOON BELOW 7000 FEET...

FOR ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL AREAS-
SAN DIEGO COUNTY COASTAL AREAS-
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY VALLEYS-THE INLAND EMPIRE-
SAN DIEGO COUNTY VALLEYS-
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
SANTA ANA MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS-
SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
COACHELLA VALLEY-
SAN DIEGO COUNTY DESERTS-

MOIST WESTERLY FLOW WILL BRING PERIODS OF RAIN...HEAVY AT TIMES...
THROUGH TUESDAY. THE HEAVY RAIN ON ALREADY SATURATED GROUND WILL
INCREASE THE FLASH FLOOD POTENTIAL.

TOTAL RAIN AMOUNTS EACH DAY COULD BE IN EXCESS OF 1 INCH IN THE
COASTAL AND VALLEY AREAS...WITH 3 TO 6 INCHES ON THE COASTAL
MOUNTAIN SLOPES BELOW THE SNOW LEVEL. LARGER AMOUNTS ARE LIKELY ON
SOUTHWEST FACING MOUNTAIN SLOPES WITH RAINFALL RATES IN EXCESS OF
1/2 INCH PER HOUR AT TIMES. LESS RAIN WILL FALL IN THE DESERTS WITH
UP TO 1 INCH POSSIBLE.

THE HEAVY RAIN COULD CAUSE FLASH FLOODING ALONG WITH ROCK SLIDES AND
MUD SLIDES...ESPECIALLY IN STEEP TERRAIN OR IN AND BELOW BURNED
AREAS. WATER IN RIVERS...CREEKS AND STREAMS COULD QUICKLY EXCEED
THEIR BANKS.

THE RAINS OF THE LAST FEW WEEKS HAVE FILLED THE AQUIFERS UNDERLYING
THE SAN DIEGO AND SAN LUIS REY RIVERS. THIS WILL RESULT IN A QUICKER
RESPONSE AND GREATER FLOWS IN THE CHANNELS IF HEAVY RAINFALL SHOULD
DEVELOP. AS A RESULT...RIVER FLOOD WARNINGS MAY BE
NEEDED...ESPECIALLY FOR THE SAN DIEGO RIVER AT FASHION VALLEY EARLY
SUNDAY MORNING.

THE SNOW LEVEL WILL BE AROUND 6500 FEET IN THE WARM SOUTHWESTERLY
FLOW. SEVERAL FEET OF SNOW ARE LIKELY TO ACCUMULATE ABOVE 6500 FEET.
TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS FROM THIS WET PATTERN THROUGH TUESDAY
COULD BE LOCALLY TO NEAR 6 INCHES IN THE COASTAL AND VALLEY AREAS
AND 12 TO 24 INCHES ON SOME WEST FACING MOUNTAIN SLOPES.

IN ADDITION THE USGS HAS ISSUED A LANDSLIDE ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA. LANDSLIDES WILL BE POSSIBLE IN AREAS OF HEAVY RAINFALL
THROUGH THIS EVENT.

A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT FLASH FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE BUT IS NOT
IMMINENT. PEOPLE IN OR PLANNING TRAVEL THROUGH THE WATCH AREA SHOULD
CHECK PREPAREDNESS AND STAY INFORMED ON THIS DEVELOPING WET WEATHER
PATTERN.

$$

ECC


EDIS-01-08-05 2150 PST