The lead-time for flood warnings depends on the circumstances of each individual flood event. Because Steuben, Chemung, and Schuyler Counties are situated in the headwaters of several major drainage systems, the flood warning lead times are generally quite short. All flood forecasts are provided as soon as possible. However, localized flooding problems will have shorter flood warning times than large-scale regional events. Flash flooding can occur suddenly with little or no lead time.
Travel times of peak flows from upstream gauges to downstream locations are provided below. Flood Warning Service personnel can provide rough river stage forecast estimates with these lead times. National Weather Service flood forecasts based on precipitation are generally available sooner, with the amount of lead time dependent on the rate and distribution of the precipitation.
The mission of the Flood Warning Service is to provide data as quickly as possible in order to maximize the time available for emergency response. Meteorological and/or hydrological data are supplied to emergency personnel immediately whenever flooding problems are anticipated or in progress. These raw data are followed by flood forecasts based on simple modeling techniques. More sophisticated flood forecasts prepared by the National Weather Service are distributed as soon as they become available.
| Gauge Location | Avg. Travel Time |
| Cohocton River | |
| Avoca to Bath | 2 1/2 hours |
| Avoca to Painted Post | 9 1/2 hours |
| Bath to Campbell | 2-3 hours |
| Bath to Painted Post | 7 hours |
| Bath (Cohocton River) to Corning (Chemung River) | 7 hours |
| Painted Post(Cohocton River) to Corning (Chemung River) | < 1 hour |
| Painted Post (Cohocton River) to Elmira (Chemung River) | 5 hours |
| Canisteo River | |
| Almond Dam to West Cameron | 4 hours |
| West Cameron to Addison | 6 hours |
| Addison to Painted Post | 7 hours |
| Addison(Canisteo River) to Corning (Chemung River) | 7 hours |
| Addison (Canisteo River) to Elmira (Chemung River) | 14 1/2 hours |
| Cowanesque River | |
| Nelson (Cowanesque River) to Lindley (Tioga River) | 4 1/2 hours |
| Tioga River | |
| Tioga Dam (Tioga River) to Corning (Chemung River) | 10 hours |
| Tioga Junction to Lindley | 2 1/2-3 hours |
| Lindley to Erwin | 2-3 hours |
| Erwin to Painted Post | 2 hours |
| Erwin (Tioga River) to Cornng (Chemung River) | 2 hours |
| Erwin (Tioga River) to Hickling Station (Chemung River) | 4-5 hours |
| Chemung River | |
| Corning to Elmira (Lake St.) | 4-5 hours |
| Corning to Chemung | 9 hours |
| Elmira to Chemung | 5 hours |