A flood watch is in effect for Chautauqua and Erie counties from 12:00 PM Thursday until 7:00 AM Saturday. According to the National Weather Service in Buffalo, the watch is due to the possibility of flooding caused by rain and/or snowmelt and/or ice jams. Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks, especially if an ice jam occurs. Ice jams may result in water infiltrating the low-lying lands along the creek and rivers paths. The combination of snowmelt and rainfall runoff, with the encouragement of ice breakage within creeks and rivers may yield ice jam flooding.