UPDATE Thursday 3:11 p.m.

The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a flood watch for Athens, Meigs, and Washington Counties in Ohio. In West Virginia Jackson, Mason, Pleasants, Tyler, and Wood Counties are also under a flood watch.

The flood watch is in effect from Saturday morning through Wednesday morning.

A flood watch means there is a potential for flooding based on current forecasts.

A storm system will bring rain into the region Friday night and continue through the weekend. This will cause rises on the small Streams and creeks. Also, water flowing out of the West Virginia and Pennsylvania mountains from rain and snowmelt will be coming down the Ohio River. The Ohio River is expected to see strong rises through Wednesday and any streams that flow into the Ohio River will also see backwater problems.

You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible flood warnings. Those with property, dwellings, and belongings in
areas prone to flooding should prepare and take action.

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Guernsey, Noble and Morgan counties are under a flood watch that will remain in effect from Thursday evening through Sunday evening.

A flood watch means there is a potential for flooding based on current forecasts of snow melting and rainfall.

A low pressure system is heading for the east coast causing rainfall to move across the Mid-Ohio Valley, and for large snow accumulations from the north to melt.

Tune in to WTAP-TV at noon, five and six o'clock for your latest weather forecast.

You can also check out river levels by clicking on the weather tab of wtap.com and then MOV River Level.