The National Weather Service has posted a Flash Flood Watch for Avalon and surrounding communities starting on Thursday, July 3rd at 4:00pm through Friday morning.  There is a potential for heavy showers and thunderstorms associated with a cold front that will stall over our region as Hurricane Arthur passes offshore.  Please note with Arthur there may be restrictions on bathing and swimming in the ocean imposed by the Avalon Beach Patrol; please obey all instructions provided by lifeguards.  It is possible that the Avalon fireworks show scheduled for Friday evening may be moved to Sunday evening for weather related and safety reasons.  The fireworks originate from a barge in the ocean and rough surf/wave action may postpone fireworks until Sunday depending on the path of Arthur.  If you see lightning or hear thunder, seek shelter immediately, especially if you are on the beach.  If you have any emergency, please dial 911.

Here is the text of the Flash Flood Watch issued by the National Weather Service:

Flash Flood Watch in effect from this afternoon through Friday
morning…

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly has expanded the

* Flash Flood Watch to include portions of Delaware… northeast
Maryland and New Jersey… including the following areas… in
Delaware… Delaware beaches… inland Sussex and Kent. In
northeast Maryland… Caroline… Kent MD… Queen Annes and
Talbot. In New Jersey… Atlantic… Atlantic coastal Cape May…
Cape May… coastal Atlantic… coastal ocean… Cumberland…
eastern Monmouth… ocean and southeastern Burlington.

* From this afternoon through Friday morning

* a cold front from the northwest is forecast to stall over our
region late this afternoon into Friday morning. Tropical
moisture from Arthur will interact with the boundary… resulting
in periods of heavy rain. Forecast rainfall totals range from
one to three inches with locally higher amounts possible. Some
areas will be prone to flash flooding where the ground is
already saturated from recent heavy rainfall.

* The heavy rainfall is expected to result in flooding along
streams and creeks… on roadways and in areas of poor drainage.
The flooding may occur quickly in the heaviest of the downpours.

Precautionary/preparedness actions…

This Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop to
produce flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous
situation.

Please monitor the forecast and be prepared to take action if
flash flood warnings are issued.