Heavy rain throughout region; Ohio River flooding continues
More wet weather was in the forecast for the region as the Ohio River was continuing to fall below flood stage.
The National Weather Service office in Paducah reported early Thursday morning, Feb. 27, that it was “going to be a wet start to the new week, and new month.”
The forecast was calling for Sunday to be dry during the daytime hours.
Rain chances were expected to “really ramp up during the Sunday night through Wednesday time frame.
“And the problem with that is, we will still have not fully recovered from our recent rainfall events.
“The ground remains moist, and rivers, while falling, are running fairly high.”
The weather service advised last Thursday that “we are still 5 to 7 days away from this rain event, there are indicators that we can expect prolonged and saturating rains during this Sunday night through Wednesday time frame.
“The envelope of potential forecast storm total amounts range from a low of 2 inches, to perhaps as high as 5 or 6 inches, by the time it all winds down later in the week.
If the heavy rain does occur, the weather service was advising people in the region to expect a wide range of flooding issues again, “from roadway ponding, to more widespread street and areal flooding.
“Subsiding creeks and streams will be filling up again, and all of this water will dump into the river systems, ultimately halting their falls and climbing them back up again.”
The weather service was advising the region’s residents to “use your time now to prepare accordingly, and stay tuned to the latest updated forecasts for this next incoming heavy rain system.”
Ohio River Flooding
The weather service shared the following information about flooding along the Ohio River.
Ohio River at Olmsted Lock and Dam
A flood warning remains in effect until late Monday night, March 2.
At 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, the river’s stage was 45.4 feet. Flood stage is 36.0 feet.
Moderate flooding was occurring. Moderate flooding was in the forecast.
The forecast was calling for the river to continue to fall to below flood stage by Monday, March 2, before midnight.
Ohio River at Cairo
A flood warning remains in effect until Wednesday, March 4.
At 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, the river’s stage was 49.7 feet. Flood stage is 40.0 feet.
Moderate flooding was occurring. Moderate flooding was in the forecast.
The forecast was calling for the river to continue to fall to below flood stage by Wednesday morning, March 4.