The National Weather Service has issued a FLASH FLOOD WATCH in effect from 7-a.m. Monday through 7-a.m. Wednesday for the following area counties: Cass-Adair-Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas, Pottawattamie, Mills, Harrison, Shelby, Sac, Crawford, and Carroll.

A frontal system south of Iowa this evening will lift into the state overnight and then stall southwest to northeast Monday and Tuesday before finally exiting Wednesday morning. Unusually high amounts of moisture for fall will be in place near the system allowing for repetitive moderate to heavy rains. Total accumulations after multiple days of rain may reach as high as four to six inches across west central and northwest Iowa with two to four inch totals possible central and southeast.

* Soils are already at or near saturation so much of the rainfall will runoff into streams, creeks and rivers and may result in extensive overland flooding and standing water, ponding water on roads and even localized flash flooding. This is in addition to the potential of widespread river flooding across the northern half of Iowa.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A Flood Watch means there is a potential for flooding based on current forecasts. You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.