Heavy rain pounds Southeast Missouri, closes roads

An unusual amount of rain fell Saturday as creeks and ditches spilled over their banks, despite it being the first day of winter.

National Weather Service meteorologist Robyn Smith said Cape Girardeau County and surrounding areas, such as Marble Hill, Mo., and Poplar Bluff, Mo., had received about 4 inches of rain as of 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Wayne County experienced 2 to 3 inches of standing water in homes and on highways.

Another 1 to 2 inches of rain was expected to fall before the rain ends later in the evening, Smith said.

"There'll be some locations by the end of tonight that will have received anywhere from 5 to 7 inches of rain. That's not out of the question," he said Saturday.

As of 10 p.m. Saturday, according to the observation station at Cape Girardeau Regional Airport, more than 4 inches of rain had fallen since Friday evening.

The National Weather Service received widespread reports of creeks and ditches overflowing with water, and standing and running water in streets and county highways, Smith said.

A flood warning for Southeast Missouri, excluding the Bootheel, was issued until midnight Saturday. River flood warnings also were issued for several rivers west of Cape Girardeau County. There was not a river flood warning issued for the Mississippi River yet, Smith said.

The Mississippi River measured at 8.9 feet at 7 a.m. Saturday, and the level was expected to nearly double and reach 14.9 feet by today, according to the National Weather Service. Despite the rise, that still is well below flood stage.

Missouri Department of Transportation district engineer Mark Shelton said several roads in

Southeast Missouri were closed, including some in Cape Girardeau, Stoddard and Perry counties. A majority of the roads closed were lettered routes, not major routes, he said.

MoDOT crews will to continue monitoring road conditions through the night, Shelton said.

In Cape Girardeau, the heavy amount of rainfall did not effect road conditions.

Cpl. Hank Voelker of the Cape Girardeau Police Department said he anticipated more rain than what fell, but as of about 7 p.m. Saturday, it hadn't happened yet.

Water was draining well, he said, and roads only were sporting puddles -- not overflowing.

Aside from a few vehicles that hydroplaned and got stuck in the mud, "we definitely didn't have any accidents out of the normal," Voelker said.

Occasions where 5 to 7 inches of rain falls in 24 hours are rare, regardless of the season, Smith said.

"It's unusual any time of year," he said. " ... It just doesn't happen that often."

Smith recommended people do not drive across flooded roadways, and do not allow children to play in drainage ditches for creeks, as water levels may quickly rise.

Find road conditions in your area by visiting traveler.modot.org/map/.

ashedd@semissourian.com

388-3632

Pertinent addresses:

Cape Girardeau County, MO

Marble Hill, Mo.

Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Wayne County, MO

Stoddard County, MO

Perry County, MO