Hawaii Flooding, Flash Flood Warning, Flood Advisory

Broadcast Weather Reports can be very important for your safety, particularly if you are in a flood-prone area. Reports that are segments of regular daily news programs should not be ignored, of course. Reports that preempt regular programming with special weather news—often followed by a message that continues to crawl across the bottom of the TV screen—deserve special attention. When you hear of heavy rain or prolonged rain, or you hear any terminology that suggests flooding, listen carefully. While radio and TV broadcasters usually explain the terms they use, you may need to be prepared to understand and act quickly.

When the news is called "flood advisory" or a "bulletin," you are being given useful information, but are not necessarily being urged to immediate action. Listen to the advice and information, consider your specific circumstances and location, and make your decision about how to respond. However, if the news is an "urban and small stream advisory," it means that flooding of small streams, streets, and low-lying areas, such as railroad underpasses and urban storm drains, is already occurring. If you live in or adjacent to such an area, you will need to be watchful and may need to take action to preserve property.

Broadcast meteorologists will also sometimes speak of a "flood potential outlook." This is a long range (36-72 hours) outlook issued by a local National Weather Service when forecast meteorological conditions indicate that a significant heavy rainfall event may occur that would either cause flooding or aggravate an existing flooding situation. If your household is prepared for flood-related emergencies, this level of news may only mean, "don't fail to listen to upcoming news reports." If not, it may be the last warning that still gives you time to prepare. Find out how to prepare for flooding now.

The words "watch" and "warning" are used for two different levels of flood alerts. A flash flood watch or flood watch means that flooding or flash flood is possible in the area. The basic message of a flood watch is exactly what it sounds like, "Watch closely, conditions suggest a high likelihood of flooding." When the word "watch" is replaced by the word warning, flooding or flash flooding is imminent or already beginning to occur. If you are in a low-lying or flood-prone area, act immediately to ensure the safety of your family. When a warning is issued, it is too late to prepare property to withstand flooding. You may have only seconds to act.

You might also hear that the National Weather Service has released a "statement," perhaps a flood statement or a flash flood statement. A statement is a message with additional information that is issued after a watch, warning or advisory. The announcement of the cancellation of a warning or an update on road closures, for example, would be a statement. Statements are often important—a road closure statement, for example, may help you avoid a dangerous situation—but they don't announce new flooding dangers as such. If new flooding occurs or is expected, new watches and warnings will be issued.

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