Recent rainfall has swelled local creeks and streams as Schuylkill County remains under a flood watch until 8 p.m. today.
The National Weather Service at State College issued a flash flood watch at 1 p.m. Monday until 8 p.m. today for most of Central Pennsylvania, including Schuylkill County.
John Matz, county emergency management coordinator, said some areas in the county had a lot more rain than others through the night.
"Over the weekend, in some areas the rain was really intense," Matz said Monday.
From Friday through Sunday evening, about 1 1/2 to 2 inches of rain fell in Schuylkill County.
"It was enough to cause some streams to rise, but not enough to flood," Kevin Fitzgerald, a meteorologist at NWS in State College, said Monday.
Matz said he noticed that the Schuylkill River in West Brunswick Township was high Saturday.
"It was considerably higher than I have seen it in a while," Matz said.
There will be a chance of showers and thunderstorms though Wednesday.
"It's going to remain very humid with the chance of showers and thunderstorms concentrated in the afternoon hours but it could happen anytime," Fitzgerald said.
The NWS advisory states heavy showers and thunderstorms may result in rainfall rates in excess of 2 inches per hour.
"On average, the area is not going to see more than an inch, but there could be localized areas that get more than that. That's why the flash flood watch was issued. Any of these showers could put down a half inch or more in a short amount of time," Fitzgerald said.
"I think we will get small stream flooding in the areas where we historically do."
Matz said the county will be gathering damage reports for the state as it looks to qualify for a presidential disaster declaration to help with the recent significant flood damage in the western part of the state.
"They try to get the big picture so we try to get them the information for Schuylkill County," Matz said.
Local residents should report weather damage to their municipalities, which will then give the information to SCEMA, Matz said.
Matz also said drivers should use even more caution when traveling on wet roadways, especially with all the local construction.
"It's very easy to hydroplane," Matz said.
The NWS launched the "Turn Around, Don't Drown" campaign with the Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration to warn people of the hazards of walking or driving a vehicle through flood waters.
According to the NWS, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other severe weather related hazard as people often underestimate the force and power of water. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that more than half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water. The next highest percentage of flood-related deaths is due to walking into or near flood waters.
For more information, visit the National Weather Service website at www.weather.gov.