Press release:
The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for the City of Batavia and Genesee County from Sunday afternoon through Wednesday morning, Nov. 23-26.
Two significant lake effect snow events this week have brought deep snowpack across the area. This snowpack stores a large quantity of water, and a warming trend begins early this weekend. By Saturday afternoon, air temperatures will remain above freezing through Tuesday night. Daytime highs will rise to near 50 F degrees on Sunday and near 60 F degrees on Monday.
At first the snowpack is expected to absorb much of the water from the snow melt. However as the snowpack ripens, and with the addition of a half inch of rainfall expected Sunday night and Monday, the potential for flooding will rapidly increase.
Recommended precautions/preparedness actions for Batavia residents:
• Monitor forecasts for the latest alerts;
• Make sure sump pumps are turned on and are functioning;
• For those living in low-lying areas or near areas prone to flooding, move the items in your basement up off the floor;
• Don't drive in standing water or flooded streets;
• Do not drive beyond barricades that indicate a street is closed;
• Please help the City keep the storm drains free from debris. Many leaves were in the streets awaiting pick up prior to the snow storm. As the snow melts, these leaves will move toward storm drains and block drainage capability. THIS WILL CAUSE STREET FLOODING. City workers will be out clearing drains throughout the melting period, and the CITY IS ASKING ALL RESIDENTS TO rake leaves and debris away from the storm drains throughout the melting period. Please help neighbors who are out of town or unable to perform this task;
• In an emergency, call 9-1-1.
