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<br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />2. FLASH FLOODS - overbank flows due primarily to heavy rain in <br />a short period of time caused primarily by heavy, slow moving <br />thunderstorms. The floods normally occur within 3 hours or so of the <br />beginning of heavy rain. Thus little time is available for preparing and <br />disseminating wamings. Since the reaction time for these events is short, <br />and past and future rainfall is such a large input to the forecast, the closest <br />National Weather Service Office (in this case Pueblo) is tasked with <br />preparing flash flood warnings. <br /> <br />3. WA TCHES - used to inform the public and cooperating agencies <br />that current and developing hydrological and meteorological conditions are <br />such that the area in the watch is subject to possible flash flooding. A <br />WATCH advises persons in the watch area to check preparedness <br />plans, keep Informed, and be ready to take action If a flash flood <br />warning Is Issued or flooding Is observed. <br /> <br />4. WARNINGS - used to inform the public and cooperating agencies <br />that flash flooding is imminent or in progress for specific communities, and/or <br />streams. Persons In the WARNING area are advised to take the <br />necessary actions immedlatefv. <br /> <br />The NWS issues flood warnings and watches when flooding is <br />expected or when flooding has been observed. NWS will update the <br />watches or warnings as conditions warrant. Flood watches or warnings are <br />transmitted on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) <br />weather radio, NOAA weather wire, EAS (Emergency Alert System) and <br />radio and TV stations. They are described in the following paragraphs: <br /> <br />(a) A FLOOD WATCH will be issued by the Denver Office for the <br />Canon City area if the Arkansas River will be near bankfull and conditions <br />look good for flooding 6 hours or more in the future. This watch will be <br />followed by statements every few hours on how the watch was evolving, or <br />canceling it if necessary. <br /> <br />The Denver office monitors the Arkansas River gage at Canon City <br />on a continual basis and would normally issue a flood watch at Canon City <br />if the gage height is anticipated to reach 8 feet. According to Figure 3, this <br />is well below the 8,850 cfs required for Level 1 so little action would seem to <br />be required for a flood watch for the Canon City area. <br /> <br />(b) A FLOOD WARNING (flooding which is expected to cause loss <br />of life or significant property damage is in progress or imminent) will be <br />prepared by the Pueblo office and transmitted the same way, with estimates <br />and times of future river levels. <br /> <br />A flood warning for the Canon City area will normally be issued for <br />the Arkansas River if the gage height at Canon City is expected to rise to 10 <br />feet or more. This is also lower than the Level 1 as specified in this plan. <br />For this case, estimates of future river levels and times at Canon City and <br />downstream will normally be provided. Hopefully these would provide <br />information on the possibility and timing of higher Level 1 ,2, & 3 conditions. <br /> <br />8 <br />