Flood warnings issued for rivers
Flood warnings once again are in effect for rivers in the Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky regions.
The warnings were issued by the National Weather Service office in Paducah.
Among the rivers with flood warnings are the Ohio, the Big Muddy and the Mississippi.
The weather service reported on Wednesday, Feb. 6, that heavy rainfall was expected in the region.
The additional heavy rain, along with rain which had already fallen across a saturated Ohio River basin, was forecast to send river gage points into flood stage through early this week.
Most of the communities in the region are expected to experience minor flooding, “with the exception of Shawneetown and Cairo.” The weather service reported that those two Southern Illinois communities could reach moderate flood stage.
The weather service noted that as of Feb. 6, the forecasted crests for area rivers were preliminary and could be adjusted as each area of rain moved across the region last week.
Ohio River at Cairo
As of Feb. 6, a flood warning continued for the Ohio River at Cairo.
At 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, the river stage was at 39.2 feet. Flood stage is 40.0 feet. Moderate flooding was in the forecast.
The river was expected to rise above flood stage by Friday evening, Feb. 8, and continue to rise to near 47.0 feet by Wednesday, Feb. 13.
Ohio River at Paducah
A flood warning was scheduled to take effect on Sunday morning, Feb. 10, for the Ohio River at Paducah. The warning is to remain in effect until further notice.
At 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, the river’s stage was at 31.5 feet. Flood stage is 39.0 feet. Minor flooding was in the forecast.
The river was expected to rise above flood stage on Sunday morning, Feb. 10, and continue to rise to near 42.5 feet by Thursday, Feb. 14.
Big Muddy River at Murphysboro
Heavy rain which was in the forecast last week, along with rain that had already fallen across an already saturated Big Muddy River basin, was expected to cause minor flooding in Murphysboro starting on Friday, Feb. 8.
At 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, the river’s stage was at 13.2 feet. Flood stage is 22.0 feet. Minor flooding was in the forecast.
The river was expected to rise above flood stage by Friday, Feb. 8, before midnight, and continue to rise to near 27.4 feet by Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 12.
Mississippi River
The weather service issued a flood warning for the Mississippi River as Monday's Pub. was going to press Thursday, Feb. 7. The warning is in effect through Thursday, Feb. 14.