ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCY SERVICES, INC

Flood Warning

**

The lead-time for flood warnings depends on the circumstances of each individual flood event. Because Steuben and Chemung counties are situated in the headwaters of several major drainage systems, the flood warning lead times are generally quite short. All flood forecasts are provided as soon as possible. However, localized flooding problems will have shorter flood warning times than large-scale regional events. Flash flooding can occur suddenly with little or no lead-time.  

Travel times of peak flows from upstream gauges to downstream locations are provided below. Rough river stage forecast estimates based on stream gauge levels and stage relation plots are provided with these lead times. Flood forecasts based on precipitation are generally available sooner, with the amount of lead-time dependent on the rate and distribution of the precipitation.

The mission of the Flood Warning Service is to provide data as quickly as possible in order to maximize the time available for emergency response. Meteorological and/or hydrological data are supplied to emergency personnel immediately whenever flooding problems are anticipated or in progress. This raw data is followed by flood forecasts based on simple modeling techniques. More sophisticated flood forecasts prepared by the National Weather Service are distributed as soon as they become available.

Travel Time Estimates for Peak Flows

*

Gauge Locations

Avg. Travel Time

Cohocton River

 

Avoca to Bath

2 1/2 hours

Avoca to Painted Post

9 1/2 hours

Bath to Campbell

2-3 hours

Bath to Painted Post

7 hours

Bath(Cohocton River) to Corning (Chemung River)

7 hours

Painted Post (Cohocton River) to Corning(Chemung River)

< 1 hour

Painted Post(Cohocton River) to Elmira (Chemung River)

5 hours

 

 

Canisteo River

 

Almond Dam to West Cameron

4 hours

West Cameron to Addison

6 hours

Addison to Painted Post

7 hours

Addison(Canisteo River) to Corning(Chemung River)

7 hours

Addison(Canisteo River) to Elmira (Chemung River

14 1/2 hours

 

 

Cowanesque River

 

Nelson (Cowanesque River) to Lindley (Tioga River)

4 1/2 hours

 

 

Tioga River

 

Tioga Dam (Tioga River) to Corning (Chemung River)

10 hours

Tioga Junction to Lindley

2 1/2-3 hours

Lindley to Erwin

2-3 hours

Erwin to Painted Post

2 hours

Erwin(Tioga River) to Corning(Chemung River)

2 hours

 

Erwin (Tioga River) to Hickling Station(Chemung River)

4-5 hours

 

 

Chemung River

 

Corning to Elmira (Lake St.)                                              

4-5 hours     

Corning to Chemung

9 hours

Elmira to Chemung

5 hours