Flood warnings still in effect

Thursday, March 22, 2012

As rain continues to fall in southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri, area waterways are overflowing and flood warnings remain in effect.

A flood warning continues for the Little Osage River near Horton, the Marmaton River near Nevada, and the Osage River near Schell City.

The Osage River had reached 30.1 feet -- just above flood stage of 30 feet -- at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday. At that time, the river was expected to rise to about 32.2 feet by early Saturday, then begin falling. At 32 feet, flood waters impact several county roads west of Schell City and all low-lying areas of the Schell-Osage Conservation Area.

The Little Osage, near Horton, had reached 43.8 feet and was expected to rise to about 45.9 feet by Friday morning, falling below the flood stage of 41 feet some time Saturday. Moderate flooding takes place at the gage site at 45 feet.

The Marmaton was 24 feet on Wednesday, and was expected to rise to about 27 feet this evening, falling below flood stage of 20 feet Saturday evening. At 28 feet, water impacts Highway 54, along Highway H and Highway T west of Nevada.

Flooding also caused the closure of Highway KK in Vernon County at about 9:15 Tuesday night; the road remained closed on Wednesday. Highway V in Vernon County has been closed since Tuesday afternoon, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation.

Additional rain is in the forecast through Friday; but the NWS expects sunny skies to return on Saturday.

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