National Weather Service flood watch issued as CT faces more rain after this week’s deluge

A flood warning is in effect for part of the Connecticut River through Monday morning, even as the National Weather Service issued a flood watch for Friday evening into Saturday for a wide swathes of Connecticut, New York state and New Jersey.

The weather service forecast possible flooding caused by excessive rainfall and in Connecticut named part of Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex, New London, and Fairfield countries. The watch includes “all of southern Connecticut and northeast New Jersey. In southeast New York, Rockland and Westchester counties.”

The National Weather Service said another “deepening low will track up through the Great Lakes tonight, sending a strong frontal system through the area. Widespread rainfall of 1 to 2 inches is expected, with locally higher amounts possible.”

Earlier this week, flooding from heavy rains overnight and melting snow caused a partial dam break Wednesday in Norwich, prompting the evacuation of about 500 people, and the closure of numerous roads throughout Connecticut.

PHOTOS: Flooding in Norwich CT after heavy rain, melted snow

The partial dam break was reported on the Yantic River north of the Bean Hill Substation, leading to the substation needing to be taken offline and a disruption to power for about 5,000 customers, according to Norwich Public Utilities. The substation needed to be taken offline to avoid “potentially catastrophic damage to our infrastructure,” the public energy provider said.

According to officials, the Yantic River measured at about 14 feet Wednesday, a level it has not reached since the 1930s.

It’s a leaky dam with a troubled past. It tested CT’s dam safety system amid a rain deluge.

The NWS Friday forecast means “area rivers, creeks and streams are running high and could flood with more heavy rain. Excessive runoff may also result  in flooding of other low lying and flood prone locations. Coastal  flooding may exacerbate impacts on tidal rivers,” according to the weather service.

Find more information here.

“Heavy rain will fall on a deep primed snowpack leading to the melt increasing. Flows in rivers will increase quickly and reach critical levels,” according to the service.

In Connecticut the flood warning continues for: Connecticut River At Middle Haddam affecting Middlesex County; Farmington River at Simsbury affecting Hartford County.

Anyone living in flood prone areas should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.

Further:

• Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding.
• Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
• Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas.
• Additional information is available at www.weather.gov.

Minor flooding is forecast but at 7 feet, the weather service noted, and “flooding is likely in the vicinity of  Meadow Road, Route 17A, in the Gildersleeve section of Portland. A   portion of this roadway will likely be closed. This includes the  Exchange Club of Portland Fairgrounds. Boating interests should  prepare for a period of swift river flows during this period.