PEMA reminds residents to be cautious during weekend storms

The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency issued a reminder to southern Pa. residents following forecasts of potentially heavy rain Friday into this weekend.

Emergency officials want everyone to monitor weather forecasts and stay alert for “rapidly changing conditions,” the release said.

The National Weather Service is calling for 2-to-3 inches of rain mainly south of Interstate 80, with as much as four inches possible in some areas.

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The heaviest rain is expected to fall between Friday night and Saturday afternoon, but heavier pockets may cause flash flooding, the release said.

Richard D. Flinn Jr., director of PEMA, gave descriptions of a “watch” and a “warning” in order to help people understand the unique differences:

• A flood or flash flood watch means that conditions are favorable for flooding to occur. Residents should stay alert and watch for rapidly rising waters, including rivers and streams, and be prepared to move to high ground quickly.
• A flood or flash flood warning means that there is actual flooding, or flooding is imminent. Residents should act at once and move to high ground.

In addition, Flinn said drivers should never drive through floodwaters because it is impossible to tell if it is completely safe to go through.

Cox Media Group