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More than four inches of rain could fall in some parts of the Miami Valley by Sunday morning raising flooding concerns after a snow melt.
A National Weather Service Flood Watch is in effect for the entire area until Sunday morning.
Rainfall totals are expected to be between 2 and 4 inches for most of the region with some areas getting more than four inches.
“The majority of this rain will happen in an 18-hour window of time, from Saturday midday through sunrise Sunday,” said Storm Center 7 Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek. “Flooding chances will increase sharply from Saturday evening into the overnight.”
Much of the snow on the ground melted Thursday as temperatures reached 40 degrees. Temperatures on Friday reached the mid-50s finishing off the snow pack. Pools of rain and melted snow will sit on top of the still frozen ground this weekend causing standing water in low-lying areas.
“Because of the recent snow melt and the ground already being saturated, it’s not going to have anywhere to go,” said Meteorologist McCall Vrydaghs.
River levels are expected to rise, and flooding issues could persist early next week.
Rain will become steadier and heavier Saturday afternoon with highs in the mid-50s. The rain is expected to stop around sunrise on Sunday.
“Even though the rain will stop Sunday morning, as those creeks and streams start to filter into the larger rivers, we’ll start to see those water levels increase,” Vrydaghs said.
According to National Weather Service predictions, the flooding threat on the lower Great Miami River — around Miamisburg — will be moderate by late Sunday, while the threat farther north in Troy will be minor to moderate.
Temperatures will be in the 20s Monday, and water on the ground could start to freeze.
Christmas Eve will be sunny, but chilly. Lows will be in the teens with a high in the upper 20s.
Christmas is expected to be partly cloudy with afternoon temperatures in the mid-30s.
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