UPDATE (12:15 p.m.): The Cayuga Waterfront Trail is closed between the Stewart Park foot bridges and the Newman Golf Course due to flooding from Fall Creek.
The original story continues below.
ITHACA, N.Y.—Parts of the City of Ithaca are beginning to experience localized flooding due to ice jams in creeks throughout the area.
South Meadow Street should be avoided if possible due to the flooding conditions, and additional parts of the city are icy due to residual standing water in the streets.
Creeks are being closely monitored and officials are working with the National Weather Service (NWS) to prepare for potential impacts from weather later this week. On the evening of Thursday, Feb. 17, the NWS enacted a flood watch through Friday, Feb. 18, following “high temperatures combined with high dew points, windy conditions and rainfall” that contributed to melting most of the snow left from Feb. 4 storm.
“Depending on ice behavior, any release of the ice jam could result in sudden rises of water, leading to a rapid flooding situation,” the flood watch forecast said.
Lansing and Trumansburg school districts have two-hour delays, and Dryden Central School District will remain remote following its two-hour delay.
Residents who live near Cascadilla Creek, Six Mile Creek and Fall Creek should be alert to creek and weather conditions. They can prepare for potential flooding by removing valuable items from basement levels, check purchase sump-pumps to make sure they are directed away from houses and into storm sewers if possible.
Residents should adhere to any street closures and parking prohibitions including odd/even parking which will be strictly enforced to streamline street-clearing efforts.
If you have accumulated water in your home and need help, the Ithaca Fire Department may be able to assist you. The department can be reached though the Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response at 911.
This is a developing story and will be updated.