AT 1221 PM EST...DOPPLER RADAR AND AUTOMATED RAIN GAUGES INDICATE THE WARNED AREA HAS RECEIVED WIDESPREAD 1-2.5 INCHES OF RAIN. ADDITIONAL SHOWERS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING UP TO ANOTHER INCH OF RAIN. FLASH FLOODING IS LIKELY AS A RESULT OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS. * THIS INCLUDES BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING STREAMS AND THEIR ASSOCIATED TRIBUTARIES...KILLIAN CREEK...FORNEY CREEK...SOUTH FORK CATAWBA RIVER...THIRD CREEK...FOURTH CREEK...PATTERSON CREEK...DUTCHMAN CREEK...CARTER CREEK...WITHROW CREEK...GRANTS CREEK...TOWN CREEK...AND SECOND CREEK. * SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE... SALISBURY...STATESVILLE...NEWTON...LINCOLNTON...MOCKSVILLE... MOORESVILLE...CHINA GROVE...MAIDEN...SPENCER AND LANDIS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... * NUMEROUS ROADS AND BRIDGES WILL BE THREATENED BY HEAVY RAIN AND RAPIDLY RISING STREAMS AND CREEKS. PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO WATER OVER ROADWAYS...ROAD SIGNAGE...AND BARRICADES INDICATING HIGH WATER AND FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. ONLY A FEW INCHES OF RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER CAN CARRY AWAY YOUR VEHICLE. TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN! * EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS...URBAN AREAS...HIGHWAYS...STREETS AND UNDERPASSES AS WELL AS OTHER DRAINAGE AREAS AND LOW LYING SPOTS. STAY AWAY FROM STORM DRAINS...CULVERTS...CREEKS AND STREAMS. WATER LEVELS CAN RISE RAPIDLY AND SWEEP YOU AWAY.

Our area is under a flood watch now through 7 a.m. Thursday, New Year’s Eve. A round of heavy rain is expected to develop today, with scattered thunderstorms possible this afternoon.

The National Weather Service says another 1 to 2 inches of rain is possible through tomorrow morning. With the ground already saturated and rivers, streams and creeks full, there’s a good chance for flooding, especially in low-lying areas.

The thunderstorms could bring frequent lightning and damaging winds. An isolated tornado is also possible.

The chance of rain today is 100 percent, with patchy fog and a high of 66. Winds will pick up from the south southwest this afternoon at 5-8 mph. Tonight brings more showers and storms, with an 80 percent chance of precipitation. Patchy fog is likely, with a low of 57. South southwest winds will blow at 5-11 mph.

Thursday has a 40 percent chance of showers and will be mostly cloudy with a high of 62. Winds will shift to the north around 5 mph. New Year’s Eve will be mostly cloudy and noticeably cooler, with a low of 44 and north northeast wind at 3-5 mph.

New Year’s Day will be mostly cloudy with a cooler high of 53 and north northwest wind at 3-5 mph. Friday night will be partly cloudy and cold, with a low of 31.

The sun should return Saturday, but with much cooler temperatures, cooler than some lows we’ve seen earlier in the week. The high will be 48 and the low will be 30.

It warms up a little Sunday, with more sunny skies and a high of 52. The low will be 30 again.

Monday will be sunny again, with a high of 49 and a low of 29.

And, if predictions hold out, Tuesday will be sunny with a high of 50.