Flash Flood Warning

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS EXTENDED THE * FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR... KENT COUNTY IN RHODE ISLAND... THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF WARWICK... WASHINGTON COUNTY IN RHODE ISLAND... THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF SOUTH KINGSTOWN... EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN WINDHAM COUNTY IN NORTHERN CONNECTICUT... * UNTIL 700 PM EDT * AT 239 PM EDT...THE PUBLIC REPORTED FLASH FLOODING FROM OCCASIONAL THUNDERSTORMS MOVING SLOWLY NORTHEAST OVER THE WARNED AREA. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE EXPECTED IN PARTS OF THE WARNED AREA. WESTERLY RHODE ISLAND HAS RECEIVED OVER 5 INCHES TODAY AND STORM TOTALS IN WESTERN WASHINGTON COUNTY MAY REACH 7 INCHES BY 6 PM. DURING LULLS IN THE HEAVY RAIN THERE WILL BE SOME RECESSION OF FLOOD WATERS IN URBAN CENTERS BUT SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS WILL CONTINUE RISING INTO FLOOD. PATENTER BROOK AND THE PAWCATUCK RIVER BASIN AS WELL AS THE REGION FROM WESTERLY TO HOPKINTON AND CHARLESTOWN RHODE ISLAND ARE JUST SEVERAL LOCATIONS IN HIGHER DANGER FROM CLOSED ROADS...PROPERTY DAMAGE AND LIFE THREATENING FLOODING IF CAUGHT IN FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY...INCLUDING UNDERPASSES. THE WATER MAY BE TOO DEEP TO ALLOW VEHICLES TO CROSS SAFELY...OR THE ROADWAY MAY BE UNDERMINED. MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES. NEVER DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODING ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN. A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT RAPID FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING. IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNING AREA MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY. RESIDENTS LIVING NEAR STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS FLOODED AREAS BY FOOT OR IN YOUR VEHICLE. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF FLOOD WATERS. ONLY A FEW INCHES OF RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER CAN QUICKLY CARRY AWAY YOUR VEHICLE. TO REPORT FLOODING...HAVE THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON.