This is NOT what we want to hear! U.S. weather experts say the stage is set for unprecedented major flooding this spring for most of the nation. In Thursday’s spring forecast, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says more than 200 million Americans are at risk for some kind of flooding, with 13 million of them at risk of major inundation.
National Weather Service deputy director Mary Erickson said the current flooding in Nebraska, Iowa, and the South is a preview for an all-too wet and dangerous spring. She expects flooding to get worse and widespread, reaching most of the eastern two-thirds of the nation.
Forecasters say the biggest risks include all three Mississippi River basins, plus the basins of the Red River of the North, the Great Lakes, the eastern Missouri River, the lower Ohio River, the lower Cumberland River and the Tennessee River.
Today: Partly cloudy. High 58. NW @ 10-15.
Tonight: P/Cldy. Low 30.
Tomorrow: P/Cldy. High 56. NE @ 10.
Saturday: P/Cldy to Cloudy. High near 60.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy w/rain. High 53.
Yesterday’s High in Atlantic was 57. Our Low was 29. Last year on this date our High was 52 and the Low was 32. The record High in Atlantic on this date was 88 in 1907. The Record Low was -7 in 1960.
The National Weather Service is warning that flooding in parts of South Dakota and northern Iowa could soon reach historic levels. Weather Service hydrologist Kevin Low said during a telephone briefing Wednesday that “major and perhaps historic” flooding is possible later this month at some spots on the Big Sioux and James rivers.
The service is projecting that the James River near Scotland, South Dakota, a town of about 800 residents, will reach a record 21.1 feet on Monday, shattering the old record of 20.5 feet set in 1984. The Big Sioux River in South Dakota and Iowa is expected to reach near-record levels in some places.
The worst of the flooding so far has been in Nebraska, southwestern Iowa and northwestern Missouri. Hundreds of residents have been displaced and well over 100 miles of levees in the three states have been breached or overtopped.
Today: Areas of morning fog; Partly cloudy. High 52. NW @ 10-15.
Tonight: Mostly clear. Low 27. Light & variable winds.
Tomorrow: Mostly sunny. High 58. W @ 10.
Friday: P/Cldy. High 56.
Saturday: P/Cldy to Cldy. High around 60.
Yesterday’s High in Atlantic was 47. Our Low was 32. We received .08” rain yesterday into early this morning. Last year on this date our High was 39 and the Low was 33. The record High in Atlantic on this date was 80 in 1938. The Record Low was -7 in 1906.
The National Weather Service in Omaha has issued a * Flood Warning for... Southern Montgomery County in southwestern Iowa... Mills County in southwestern Iowa... Fremont County in southwestern Iowa... Page County in southwestern Iowa... * Until 1045 PM CDT Tuesday. * At 1051 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated rain across a large part of southeast Nebraska and this will also move into southwest Iowa. There is potential for one quarter to three quarters of an inch of rain today across the flood warning area. This is in addition to the river flooding. The water is falling on ground that is saturated in most areas.
Today: Mostly cloudy w/a 70% chance of rain, mainly this afternoon. High 45. SE @ 10-15.
Tonight: Mo. Cldy w/light rain ending. Low 30. NW @ 10.
Tomorrow: Partly cloudy. High 50. NW @ 10.
Thursday: P/Cldy. High 56.
Friday: P/Cldy. High around 60.
Yesterday’s High in Atlantic was 49. Our Low was 23. Last year on this date our High was 53 and the Low was 34. The record High in Atlantic on this date was 79 in 1976. The Record Low was -14 in 1923.
1101 AM CDT MON MAR 18 2019
The National Weather Service in Omaha has issued a Flood Warning for the following counties in western IA until 11-a.m. Tuesday (3/19)…
Mills Monona Western Pottawattamie County Fremont and Harrison.
* At 1054 AM CDT, flooding continues in many areas along and near streams that are receding. Many county roads still have water on them due the recent flood event and it will take a while for that water to drain out. Locations with feeder streams that go into the Missouri River and the Nishnabotna River are the most likely to see water problems outside of the larger river flooding. This is an extension and expansion of a previous areal flood warning.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Residents in parts of southwestern Iowa were forced out of their homes Sunday as a torrent of Missouri River water flowed over and through levees, putting them in a situation similar to hundreds of people in neighboring Nebraska who have been displaced by the late-winter flood. Heavy rainfall and snowmelt have led to dangerously high water in creeks and rivers across several Midwestern states, with the Missouri River hitting record-high levels in many areas. At least two deaths were blamed on flooding, and two other men have been missing for days. While river depths were starting to level off in parts of Nebraska on Sunday, the water is so high in many places that serious flooding is expected to remain for several days. And downstream communities in Kansas and Missouri were bracing for likely flooding. Many major traffic corridors are cut-off due to flood waters or substantial damage from the water.
In Iowa, the Missouri River reached 30.2 feet Sunday in Fremont County in the state’s far southwestern corner, 2 feet above the record set in 2011. People in the towns of Bartlett and Thurman were evacuated as levees were breached and overtopped. County Emergency Management Director Mike Crecelius said it wasn’t just the amount of the water, it was the swiftness of the current that created a danger. In Mills County, residents of Pacific Junction were ordered to evacuate Sunday night due to rising water and the potential loss of structural integrity in the flood containment system. Water and gas were shut-off. Officials noted an Emergency Shelter was still available at the Salem Lutheran Church in Council Bluffs (14955 Somerset Ave.).
Lucinda Parker of Iowa Homeland Security & Emergency Management said nearly 2,000 people have been evacuated at eight Iowa locations since flooding began late last week. Most were staying with friends or family. Seven shelters set up for flood victims held just a couple dozen people Saturday night.
In Nebraska, the Missouri River flooded Offutt Air Force Base, with about one-third of it under water on Sunday. Spokeswoman Tech. Sgt. Rachelle Blake told the Omaha World-Herald that 60 buildings, mostly on the south end of the base, have been damaged, including about 30 completely inundated with as much as 8 feet of water. Hundreds of people remained out of their homes in Nebraska, where floodwaters reached record levels at 17 locations. The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency said the Missouri River was expected to reach 41 feet, or 4 feet above the record set in 2011.
Nearly 300 people have been rescued from high water across the state. At least one fatality was reported in Nebraska. On Thursday, 50-year old Columbus, Nebraska, farmer James Wilke died when a bridge collapsed as he used a tractor to try and reach stranded motorists. Two men remain missing. A Norfolk man was seen on top of his flooded car late Thursday before being swept away. Water also swept away a man after a dam collapse.
Downstream in St. Joseph, Missouri, home to 76,000 people, volunteers were helping to fill sandbags to help secure a levee protecting an industrial area. Flooding was causing problems for passenger train service between Kansas City, Missouri, and St. Louis. All Missouri River Runner trains have been cancelled today (Monday). The service typically travels twice daily between the two metropolitan areas.
The rising Mississippi River also was creating concern. The Mississippi was already at major flood level along the Iowa-Illinois border, closing roads and highways and swamping thousands of acres of farmland. Moderate Mississippi River flooding was expected at several Missouri cities, including St. Louis. Flooding has also been reported in Minnesota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. In Green Bay, Wisconsin, officials said residents who evacuated their homes could return now that floodwaters have receded there.
A Flood Warning continues for counties along the Missouri River until 11:15-a.m. today. Counties include Monona, Harrison, Pottawattamie, Mills and Fremont. Do not drive cars through areas where water covers the road. The water depth may be too great to allow your vehicle to pass safely. Turn around…don`t drown!
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
RSS