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The Spring Thaw and Flooding Threat

TUESDAY EVENING UPDATE:

 A Flood WATCH is now in effect for the entire Local 6 area and will run until Wednesday night. Showers and thunderstorms will develop this evening over Missouri and Illinois then move eastward overnight. A cold front will then sit stationary allowing a prolonged period of rain across the entire area. 

Be sure to check the river forecast summaries and forecast map links a the bottom of this blog for the latest waterway outlook.
 MONDAY EVENING UPDATE:

 Periods of recurring heavy rains will become a pattern over the next couple of weeks in the Local 6 area. When this type of activity and weather pattern sets up this time of year along with warmer temperatures allowing the ground to thaw, we start to see an increased risk for flooding and rising river levels.

 Excessive rainfall about two weeks ago in the TN Valley forced Barkley and Kentucky Dams to activate all gates to alleviate rising lake levels and send water down to the Ohio River. The Ohio River is now projected to rise to moderate flood stage by the first week in March with several more rounds of rain headed for the region. 

 Most of the areas impacted by this will be communities that sit low next to rivers and agricultural/recreational land that is usually vulnerable to river flooding in the Spring. These higher water levels will continue for several weeks, at the very least through the middle of March is the bigger weather pattern weakens. The first round of prolonged rain will begin Tuesday Night into Wednesday Night. The Weather Prediction Center has our region included in the slight and moderate risk for excessive rainfall for that entire period and is featured in the maps below.

 The Paducah National Weather Service and the River Forecast Centers are responsible for issuing products concerning area lakes and rivers. To see the very latest, here are links you can view:
River Summaries (Including Clarks, Big Muddy, Cache, Current, and many more from the Paducah NWS): Click here

TN River Summaries (including Obion, Forked Deer, and many more from the Memphis NWS): Click here



River Forecast Map: Click here 




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