The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a Flash Flood Watch for portions of south central Iowa and southwest Iowa. Area Counties included in the Watch are: Adair, Adams, Cass, Madison, Ringgold, Taylor and Union.

* The Flash Flood Watch is in effect from 7 AM CDT today (Friday) through 7-a.m. Saturday

* Widespread rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches of rain can be expected through Saturday morning, with locally higher amounts in excess of 3 inches possible.

* Heavy rainfall may lead to rapid rises on local creeks and streams and ponding of water on roadways.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

In addition, A FLOOD WATCH continues until 5-a.m. Saturday for Pottawattamie-Mills-Montgomery-Fremont-Page Counties. Occasional rounds of showers and thunderstorms with heavy rainfall potential are expected through tonight. Additional rainfall of 1 to 3 inches are possible, which would put storm total rains from Thursday through tonight in the 2.5 to 5 inch range. Flooding of low-lying area, urban areas and eventually rivers and streams could result.