Rolling Fork River predicted to fall below flood stage by Saturday

STAFF REPORT

Thursday, May 4, 2011, 4:50 p.m. (UPDATE) — The Rolling Fork River is expected to remain above flood stage through Saturday morning.

At 10:30 Thursday morning,  the National Weather Service reported the Rolling Fork River level was 44.3 feet, 9.3 feet over flood stage. The river is expected to stay at this level through tonight and fall  below flood stage — 35.0 feet — by Saturday morning. Moderate flooding is ongoing in low-lying areas.

* * *

Wednesday, May 4, 2011, 11:22 a.m. (UPDATE) — The Rolling Fork River is expected to remain above flood stage through Saturday morning.

At 10:30 Wednesday morning,  the river level was 42.4 feet, 7.2 feet over flood stage. The river is expected to crest near 43.6 feet overnight Thursday. The river is expected to fall below flood stage — 35.0 feet — by Saturday. Moderate flooding is ongoing in low-lying areas.

* * *

Tuesday, May 3, 2011, 12:50 p.m. (UPDATE) — Today’s rainfall totals have prompted the National Weather Service Louisville office to increase the severity of flooding along the Rolling Fork River at Boston from minor to moderate.

At 9:30 a.m. today, the river was at 37.0 feet, two feet over flood stage. The river is expected to continue rising to near 42.4 feet by early Thursday morning. The Rolling Fork will drop below flood stage by early Saturday morning.

* * *

Tuesday, May 3, 2011, 9:15 a.m. — Heavy rains overnight are forcing creeks and streams out of their banks again, prompting a new round of flood warnings that have canceled classes today for Nelson County Schools.

The Northeast Nelson Fire Department has responded to three water rescues by 9:30 Tuesday morning due to water over roadways. Portions of US62 south of Bloomfield were reported closed due to high water.

A Nelson County deputy sheriff reported about 10 a.m. that US 62 was open again in the “S” curves, and he asked dispatchers to contact the owners of the vehicles that had been left sitting on the roadway after their occupants were rescued by the fire department.

A National Weather Service spotter in the Greenbrier area reported 3.62 inches of new rainfall since 6 p.m. Tuesday. The weather station at Bardstown Middle School reported 1.83 inches of rain since midnight last night.

The entire county is under a flood warning until 4:45 p.m. today, and the weather service predicts additional rainfall of 1/2 to 1 inch is possible through the day today.

If you encounter a flooded roadway, never attempt to cross it. Contact Nelson County Dispatch to report flooding and turn around – don’t drown. Most flooding deaths are due to vehicles being swept off roadways.

-30-