Flood alerts are issued by weather agencies to alert residents that flood conditions are a possibility for their area.
A flash flood watch is issued when weather conditions are favorable for very heavy rain and flash flooding. A watch does not mean that flooding is actually occurring, only that conditions have created or will create a significant risk for it. If flooding actually does occur, a flood warning and urgent action should be taken.
A flood warning or flash flood warning is issued when flooding in a certain area is imminent or occurring.
In Canada, a heavy rainfall warning (which indicates rainfall amounts that could produce flooding are expected) has basically the same meaning as a flood watch.
In the United States, the National Weather Service issues watches and warnings for flooding on a per-county basis. When a flood warning is issued in the United States it means a river or creek is in flood.
In Australia, the Bureau of Meteorology issues a flood watch that covers similar conditions to the United States Flood Watch, however, it is known by slightly different names in some states.
In Europe, there is the European Flood Alert System.
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