NWS Dallas/Fort Worth Public/Media Guide - Flood/Flash Flood Watch Frame

<body bgcolor="#ffffff" leftmargin="0" topmargin="0"> <table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" border="0"> <tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td width="10"> </td> <td align="left">National Weather Service</td> <td align="right">Dallas/Fort Worth</td> <td width="10"> </td> </tr> </table> <div align="center"><table width="90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr><td><div align="center"><br><h3>Flood/Flash Flood Watch</h3>(FFW, WGUS64)</div> <h4>Definition</h4> This is used to inform you and cooperating agencies that current and developing hydrometeorological conditions are such that there is a threat of flooding, but the occurrence is neither certain nor imminent.<br><br> A flood/flash flood watch is issued if... <ul> <li>meteorological, soil, and stream conditions indicate it is possible but not imminent that flooding will develop within a designated area; or</li> <li>a possible dambreak threatens persons and property.</li> </ul> If you are in the watch area, you are advised to check flood action plans, keep informed, and be ready to take necessary actions if a warning is issued or flooding is observed.<br><br> The flood/flash flood watch will contain... <ul> <li>The issuing office, date, and time of issuance,</li> <li>The phrase "BULLETIN - Immediate Broadcast Requested" on line preceding Flood/Flash Flood Watch,</li> <li>The counties or geographical area covered by the watch (this should be described in terms of well-known river basins, counties, or portions of states),</li> <li>The effective time of the watch expressed in terms of hours or in general terms, such as this evening,</li> <li>The definition of "watch",</li> <li>The extent of the hazardous condition expected, i.e., localized or widespread,</li> <li>The severity of the hazardous condition expected when this can be done with sufficient degree of confidence; and</li> <li>Call to action statement.</li> </ul> <h4>Example</h4> <div align="center"><table width="430" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" border="1" bgcolor="#eaeaea"> <tr> <td><pre> FTWFFAFTW TTAA00 KFTW 220910 TXZ093>97-103>112-117>126-130>138-143>153-156>167-230000 BULLETIN-IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED FLASH FLOOD WATCH NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX 420 AM CDT TUE JUN 22 1993 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR TODAY. FOR THAT PART OF NORTH TEXAS SOUTH AND EAST OF A SHERMAN...LAMPASAS LINE. THIS WATCH INCLUDES THE CITIES OF SHERMAN...PARIS...TYLER..LONGVIEW...DALLAS/FORT WORTH... WACO...AND LUFKIN. A NEARLY STATIONARY FRONTAL SYSTEM WHICH HAS BEEN THE FOCUS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN OVER THE PAST 24 HOURS WILL ONCE AGAIN TRIGGER HEAVY RAINS TODAY. THE RECENT DOWNPOURS HAVE LEFT THE GROUND OVER MUCH OF NORTH TEXAS SATURATED. MANY STREAMS AND RIVERS ARE AT OR NEAR BANKFULL...SO ANY ADDITIONAL RAINFALL WILL QUICKLY BECOME RUNOFF...POSSIBLY LEADING TO FLASH FLOODING. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT THE THREAT OF FLASH FLOODING EXISTS IN THE INDICATED AREA. RESIDENTS IN FLASH FLOOD PRONE AREAS SHOULD BE READY TO SEEK HIGHER GROUND IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED OR A WARNING IS ISSUED. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION CONCERNING THE POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING AND FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.</pre></td> </tr> </table></div><br><br> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">NWS Dallas/Fort Worth: <a href="../fwd/">Home</a> | <a href="../fwd/forecast.htm">Forecasts</a> | <a href="../fwd/currentwx.html">Current Weather</a> | <a href="http://weather.noaa.gov/radar/national.html">Radar</a> | <a href="http://204.185.136.10/awc/aviation_weather_center.html">Aviation</a> | <a href="../fwd/skywarn.html">Preparedness</a><br> <a href="../fwd/lakes.htm">Hydrology & River Info</a> | <a href="../fwd/radio.html">NOAA Weather Radio</a> | <a href="../fwd/ntexclima.html">Climat Data</a> </td> </tr> </table> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="1" width="100%" border="0" bgcolor="#000000"> <tr align="center"> <td width="2%"> </td> <td align="left" width="30%"><b><span class="white">Flood/Flash Flood Watch</span></b></td> <td width="5%"><a onmouseover="act('fb')" onmouseout="inact('fb')" href="hydrof.htm"><img src="../images/fboff.gif" alt="Hydrologic Weather Introduction" width="23" height="23" border="0" name="fb"></a></td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="5%"><a onmouseover="act('b')" onmouseout="inact('b')" href="esff.htm"><img src="../images/boff.gif" alt="Flood Potential Outlook" width="23" height="23" border="0" name="b"></a></td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="6%"><a onmouseover="act('co')" onmouseout="inact('co')" href="../contents.htm"><img src="../images/cooff.gif" alt="Table of Contents" width="23" height="23" border="0" name="co"></a></td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="5%"><a onmouseover="act('f')" onmouseout="inact('f')" href="ffwf.htm"><img src="../images/foff.gif" alt="Flood/Flash Flood Warning" width="23" height="23" border="0" name="f"></a></td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="5%"><a onmouseover="act('ff')" onmouseout="inact('ff')" href="../routine/routinef.htm"><img src="../images/ffoff.gif" alt="Routine Weather Products" width="23" height="23" border="0" name="ff"></a></td> <td align="right" width="30%"><b><span class="white">Hydrologic Weather Products</span></b></td> <td width="2%"> </td> </tr> </table> </div> </body>