Watches, Warnings and Advisories
As a wet winter storm takes aim on the Central Coast, you’re likely to be hearing the words advisory, watch and warning a lot.
To help you keep the terms straight, here’s a short explanation of what these alerts mean:
Flood Advisory: Be Aware
A Flood Advisory is issued when a specific weather event that is forecast to occur may become a nuisance. A Flood Advisory is issued when flooding is not expected to be bad enough to issue a warning. It may, however, cause significant inconvenience, and if caution is not exercised, could lead to situations that may threaten life and/or property.
Flood Watch: Be Prepared
A Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding. It does not mean flooding will occur, but it is possible.
Flood Warning: Take Action
A Flood Warning is issued when flooding is imminent or occurring.
Flash Flood Warning: Take Action
A Flash Flood Warning is issued when a flash flood is imminent or occurring. A flash flood is a sudden violent flood that can take from minutes to hours to develop. It is even possible to experience a flash flood in areas not immediately receiving rain.
The National Weather Service advises anyone in a flood prone area to move immediately to high ground. For more information about flood safety, click here.
