Winter warm-up causes minor flooding

CHENANGO COUNTY – Due to unseasonably warm weather, melting snow in combination with rain fall has caused minor flooding problems throughout some areas of Chenango County. The National Weather Service in Binghamton has issued an urban and small stream advisory for all of Chenango County, in effect throughout Thursday morning.

Norwich Emergency Management Officer A. Wesley Jones said this morning the Chenango River at Norwich was currently at a level of eight and a half feet, only half a foot from the flood stage. “Flooding will be relatively minor,” Jones said, “but it could reach the point we get flooding across East Main Street.”

According to Jones, the Norwich City Police Department kept an eye on both Canasawacta Creek and the Chenango River. “Our primary concern yesterday was with ice jam flooding,” Jones said, explaining that this was no longer a cause for concern since most of the larger chunks of ice were pushed out yesterday, leaving only small pieces today.

Jones expects today’s minor flooding to be a fairly quick event. “Later this morning the river should crest,” Jones said. “It’s supposed to turn colder today and start snowing by tomorrow. The river should be receding later today.”