Flash Flood Warning Issued for Clinton County, NY Due to Life-Threatening Ice Jam

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Burlington has issued a Flash Flood Warning for east central Clinton County in northern New York. This alert is classified as a life-threatening situation due to observed flash flooding caused by an ice jam.

Affected Areas

The warning primarily impacts east central Clinton County. Specific locations expected to experience flooding include:

• Plattsburgh (including metro areas north and south of the Saranac River and north of Cornelia Street)
• Schuyler Falls
• Morrisonville

Affected streams and drainages include the Saranac River, Riley Brook, Salmon River, and Mead Brook.

What You Should Do

Emergency management has already begun evacuations along Ladue Street and River Street. Residents in the warning area should take the following actions:

• Evacuate immediately if instructed by local authorities.
• Turn around, don’t drown: Never attempt to drive through flooded roads. Most flood-related deaths occur in vehicles.
• Stay alert: Ice jams are highly unpredictable and can cause rapid, sudden fluctuations in water levels.
• Obey all road closures and instructions from emergency personnel.

Expected Conditions

At 7:05 AM EDT, emergency management reported an ice jam on the Saranac River at Morrisonville. This jam is impounding water and causing rapid river rises upstream. The NWS characterizes the hazard as life-threatening flash flooding with a “considerable” damage threat.

Timeline

• Issued: March 10 at 7:05 AM EDT
• Effective: Immediately
• Expires: March 10 at 1:00 PM EDT