Flood watch could make for blue Christmas

Published 12:00 am Thursday, December 3, 2009

Staff report

If you’re dreaming of a wet Christmas, you’re probably in luck, according to the National Weather Service.

But just like eggnog and peppermint sticks, you can get too much of a good thing. And Rowan County and surrounding areas might get too much rain today. The Weather Service issued a flood watch on Sunday effective midnight through this afternoon.

The Weather Service said the rain would last all day and precede a low pressure system moving northeast from the Gulf of Mexico. The rain was expected to be heavy and spread 2 inches of precipitation across the region, with more in some localized areas.

Urban areas from Charlotte to Salisbury stood the best chance of seeing what the service called “excessive rainfall.”

A flood watch means there is a potential for flooding under the current weather forecast and conditions. Because recent rains saturated the ground, today’s rains could cause streams and smaller rivers to overflow, the Weather Service said.

People living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop, the Weather Service said.

The advancing weather system will also bring lower temperatures to the area after several balmy days. Highs Saturday and Sunday were in the 60s. The high today is expected to be around 50 degrees.