Flooding expected to continue through midweek
Rivers across the state are struggling to keep up with the influx of water from the torrential rainfall that fell this weekend.
The area has had 7-plus inches of rainfall since April 24, which has caused many streams, creeks and rivers to swell into record-breaking territory.
April ended as the sixth wettest on record, with nearly 9 inches of rain. While the rain has stopped for now, flooding will still be of high concern through the rest of the week. Several roads are closed and will remain closed until further notice as the floodwaters continue to recede.
Flood warnings remain in effect for the majority of Mid-Missouri as water runoff and rivers continue to peak. Peaks are not expected on many rivers until Tuesday afternoon ahead of more rain that will aggravate the flooding situation.
Here are the latest river stages for Mid-Missouri:
Major flooding:
The Moreau River near Jefferson City crested at 33.57 feet, just shy of the record 34 feet. The current stage is 31.81 feet; flood stage is 17 feet. The Osage River at Mari-Osa Campground crested at 27.4 feet. The current stage is 27.3 feet; flood stage is 19 feet. The Gasconade River near Rich Fountain is at 32.89 feet and is set to peak Tuesday morning at 36.4 feet (a new record; the previous record was 34.6 feet). The flood stage is 20 feet. The Gasconade River at Jerome crested at 33.93 feet, a new record (the previous record was 31.9 feet). The current stage is 33.91 feet; flood stage is 15 feet. The Big Piney at Fort Wood East Gate has a current stage of 27.1 feet, which is a new record (the previous record was 23.5 feet). The flood stage for the river is 8 feet.
Moderate Flooding:
The Blackwater River near Blue Lick has a current stage of 31.38 feet and is set to peak Tuesday afternoon at 32.5 feet. The flood stage of the river is 24 feet. The Petite Saline Creek near Boonville crested at 22.34 feet, with a current stage of 19.92 feet. The flood stage is 16 feet. The Missouri River at Jefferson City has a current stage of 26.27 feet and is set to peak Tuesday morning at 27.2 feet. The flood stage is 23 feet. The Missouri River at Gasconade has a current stage of 34 feet and is set to peak Monday evening at 34.2 feet. The flood stage is 22 feet. The Missouri River at Hermann has a current stage of 31.62 feet and is set to peak Tuesday afternoon at 32.8 feet. The flood stage is 21 feet.
Many other rivers across Mid-Missouri are in minor flooding stage which is likely to affect low-lying areas. Here are some tips to follow if you come across any flooding:
Return home only when authorities say it is safe. Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded and watch out for debris. Areas where the waters have receded usually have eroded away making it dangerous to travel across. Do not drive through flooded roads. You don’t know how deep the water is or if the road has been washed out underneath. Remember to “turn around, don’t drown.” Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, while a foot can sweep away small vehicles. Avoid low-lying areas. Wait to check for damage after the floodwaters have receded and do so with caution.
Once floodwaters begin receding, don’t let your guard down; An additional 1 to 3 inches of rain is likely as we head into Wednesday. The rain will only exacerbate the ongoing flooding situation across Mid-Missouri and farther south.
As of Monday afternoon, there are 15 rivers in Missouri at major flood stage and 19 rivers in moderate flood stages.
Be sure to stay tuned to ABC 17 News for up-to-date information on river levels and the flooding situation.
