Rain Overnight
To say it rained overnight would be an understatement as a weather system moved across the tri-state it dumped excessive amounts of rain across Southern Illinois, Western Kentucky and southwest Indiana.
Upwards of an inch or more of rain has been reported around the area, with additional showers expected throughout the day ,into this afternoon.
Area motorists should be mindful of the rain this morning as they travel to work, school or other appointments. There are areas of ponding water and most area ditches and streams or running bank full. Be careful and do not attempt to drive through any standing water, as it could be deceiving and one may find a washed out road under that standing water. And if there are high water signs, do not drive around them or move them; they are there for a reason; to warn motorists of the danger ahead.
There was thunder overnight as the rain moved across the area. Thunder in February means frost in April according to “old wive’s and farmer tales.” That would mean White County would see frost on the morning of April 20, if the old tale holds true.
Area rivers are technically on a slow fall, but that may be affected by the recent rains.
The Little Wabash at Carmi measured 32.4 feet Tuesday night, down from Monday’s reading. Flood stage at Carmi is 27 feet. The Little Wabash is expected to drop below flood stage by this weekend, again that depending upon the forecasted rains. At 32 feet, flood waters flow up McHenry Slough and areas near Route One and 14, here in Carmi begin to flood.
The Wabash at New Harmony is also on a slow fall. It measured 19.5 feet Tuesday. Flood stage at New Harmony is 15 feet. The Wabash will continue to fall and is expected to fall below flood stage next Wednesday, Feb. 27. At twenty feet, parks of northern New harmony begin to flood and some sandbagging may be required.
The Skillet Fork, while it continues to run out of its banks, flooding hundreds of acres of farmland, it only measured 5.94 feet Tuesday at its mouth., well below the flood stage of 15 feet at Wayne City.
