Areal Flood Watch

... Flood Watch in effect through Tuesday evening...

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee has issued a

* Flood Watch for portions of southeast Alabama... Florida and
Georgia... including the following areas... in southeast
Alabama... Coffee... Dale... Geneva... Henry and Houston. In
Florida... Bay... Calhoun... coastal Walton... Franklin...
Gadsden... Gulf... Holmes... inland Walton... Jackson...
Jefferson... Leon... Liberty... Wakulla and Washington. In
Georgia... Baker... Decatur... early... Grady... Miller...
Mitchell... Seminole and Thomas.

* Through Tuesday evening

* Tropical Storm Ida is forecast to move ashore the northern Gulf
Coast late tonight or early Tuesday morning. Even though Ida is
expected to gradually weaken and begin transitioning into a non-
tropical low pressure system tonight or Tuesday... there will
still be bands of heavy rain that affect portions of the Gulf
Coast states. Storm total rainfall amounts will generally be in
the 2 to 4 inch range from this evening through Tuesday evening.
These amounts would not exceed local flash flood guidance (for a
3-hour period). However... there could be locally higher amounts
of 4 to 6 inches in areas affected by heavier rain bands.

* The main impact will be to poor drainage areas in cities... low-
lying rural and suburban areas... and along creeks and streams. Heavy
rainfall is more likely to cause rapid rises in water at such
locations.

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. Flooded roads can
be especially dangerous to motorists... as it can be difficult to
see how deep standing water is on roadways. This danger is
enhanced at nighttime.