A flood in the works?

Why do these things always seem to develop overnight? Just received a NOAA alert from Joe Pylka that if realized could take the lower Delaware and some of its tributaries out of their banks tonight or tomorrow morning. Please keep track of this situation. I will be posting an update tonight around 10 PM and as early as I can do it tomorrow morning (probably between 5:30 and 6:30 AM).

The river has risen over 12' within the past 30 hours or so, which is remarkable for a large river. It's closing in on 16' at Riegelsville with another 6' to go before it reaches bank-full. Most people along the river aren't impacted at 22'. It takes another 2 feet or so to begin reaching the most vulnerable river dwellers.

Clearly the Lehigh River is the most impacted (and largest) tributary to the Delaware. The difference can be seen upstream (Belvidere) and downstream (Riegelsville).

Special Weather Statement

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
1115 AM EDT TUE JUN 27 2006

VERY HEAVY FLOOD PRODUCING RAINS,
AND NOW THE THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...

THE REGION HAS BEEN UNDER A FLOOD THREAT FOR SEVERAL DAYS,
AND NOW THERE IS A THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS,
AND POSSIBLY ISOLATED
TORNADOES.

Click on the above link to read entire forecast.