Published: May 11, 2008 12:09 am         

5/11 - Rain brings flood watch

The National Weather Service issued a flood watch in Allegany County. Between 1 to 3 inches of new rainfall is expected on top of already wet ground beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday.

The watch is in effect through Monday morning and includes all of Allegany County as well as Mineral, Grant and Hampshire counties in West Virginia.

A flood watch means there is a potential for flooding based on current forecasts. Rain is expected to start falling across the region early Sunday afternoon from southwest to northeast and be over the entire area by late afternoon.

The heaviest rain will occur Sunday night, the alert said, and end from southwest to northeast Monday morning. The rains may cause streams and creeks to overflow their banks. Also, urban areas prone to poor drainage will be susceptible to flooding.

As the water works its way into the rivers Monday, river flooding is possible in the Upper Potomac basin.