Wet weather, slick roads ahead for holiday weekend

As of 7 a.m. Saturday, all of Mid-Missouri is under a flash flood watch. The watches are expected to expire Monday morning.

Drivers hitting the road for the holiday weekend should factor in extra time to their commute. Rain should be present most of the weekend.

Flash floods can happen very quickly when heavy rain comes down. First responders say to avoid moving water as much as possible. Just six inches of moving water is enough to knock a person down. There could also be debris being swept under the water that you can’t see.

Drivers should also avoid driving through flood waters.According to FEMA, flash floods are the number one weather related killer in the United State and most flood fatalities happen because people try to drive through the flood waters. The average car can be swept off the road in 12 inches of moving water.

Low-lying areas near rivers are especially prone to floods and flash floods. This weekend, areas along and north of Interstate 70 and areas in western Mid-Missouri are the most likely to see heavier rain.

On Monday, Mid-Missouri is expected to be cloudy and overcast.