Rain in the Christmas Forecast; Flood Watch in Lycoming County
LOCK HAVEN, PA – While City of Lock Haven employees were spending Wednesday still cleaning up city streets from the Dec. 16 snow storm, they are keeping an eye on the Christmas Eve forecast that promises, not snow, but lots and lots of rain.
Forecasters say the rain will begin around daybreak Thursday, Christmas Eve, and continue for close to 24 hours before giving way to a brief snowfall early Christmas Day. AccuWeather says the rain will serve to eat away at the existing snow cover in Clinton County and elsewhere.
The storm will unleash “extreme weather Christmas Eve” in the East, AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said, “Make sure you’re ready for that,” he warned.
“The rapidly melting snow, which contains approximately 1-3 inches of water will combine with an anticipated 1-3 inches of rain and locally higher amounts from the storm from Christmas Eve to early Christmas Day,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said.
As of Wednesday afternoon, no advisories had been issued for Clinton County, but Lycoming County and much of eastern Pennsylvania are under a flood watch, per the National Weather Service in State College:
…FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING… The Flood Watch continues for A portion of central Pennsylvania, including the following areas, Columbia, Montour, Northern Lycoming, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Snyder, Southern Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga, and Union. From Thursday afternoon through Friday morning The combination of heavy rain and melting snow will increase the risk of flooding on Christmas Eve into Christmas Day. Significant rises are expected on small streams with mainstem Susquehanna river flooding most likely upstream of Sunbury. Urban and poor drainage flooding is more probable due to storm drains that are clogged with piles of snow. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A Flood Watch means there is a potential for flooding based on current forecasts. You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible flood warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.
