It’s widely known that flood season is underway.
But in this week’s Weather Wise, some of the terms used to describe flooding and the warnings are lesser known.
It’s widely known that flooding refers to higher than normal water, typically related to snowmelt and heavy rain events here in Montana.
‘Areal’ is a newer term when it comes to flooding, and has prompted some questions from you viewers. An areal flood advisory is issued for flooding that develops more gradually that results in ponding or buildup of water in low-lying, flood prone areas, as well as small creeks and streams.
The word areal is the adjective version of the noun area, which is an expanse of space or a region of land. An “advisory” is usually issued when flooding is not considered a significant threat to life or property, more of a nuisance and inconvenience.
