An examination of flash flooding in the Binghamton, NY county warning area

This study examines the environmental conditions during and prior to flash flood events in the portions of northeast Pennsylvania and central New York comprising the Binghamton, NY County Warning Area of the National Weather Service. Although there is much research regarding both heavy precipitation and flash flooding, there exists little research into the mechanisms distinguishing between these two similar types of events. In addition, the majority of the literature addresses flash flooding or heavy precipitation in the midwestern U.S., where mesoscale convective complexes dominate warm-season precipitation.

This study compares the environmental conditions of flash floods, heavy precipitation events, and days in which flash flood watches were issued but a flash flood did not occur. A secondary focus of the work is to determine how flash flooding events in the northeastern U.S. differ from those in the Midwest.

Early results indicate that flash floods and heavy precipitation events without flash flooding differ in antecedent precipitation and antecedent soil moisture. Flash floods appear more likely to occur during periods of above-normal precipitation.