REGION —With the rivers low and snow in the forecast, the thought of flooding typically takes somewhat of a back seat in our minds, but the winter season brings freeze and thaw cycles to our rivers that can easily lead to ice jams and serious flooding.

Ice jams are best detected by the human eye, and each year the National Weather Service (NWS) seeks volunteers to report river ice conditions during the months of December through March.

Ice observers will provide information on type of ice, ice jams, ice movement and ice break-up dates and times. All observations will be conducted from safe, shoreline locations.

This information will be used by the NWS Weather Forecast Office in Binghamton, NY as well as the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center and the Northeast River Forecast Center in the preparation of river forecasts and flood warnings as necessary.

The rivers include the Lackawaxen, the Beaverkill, the Neversink and the East Branch Delaware.

If interested, please send a note by December 9 to james.brewster@noaa.gov with your contact information and river of interest.