Despite Friday’s rainfall, area rivers are expected to rise a bit in the coming days, but remain below their flood stages.
The rainfall should help a bit with the dry conditions that have developed in the region recently. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map, released this past Thursday, prior to Friday’s rainfall, shows most of Wayne County and areas to the north, south and east in Abnormally Dry conditions. The western edge of Wayne County, along with Marion, Jefferson and Franklin counties, and areas to the west, are under Moderate Drought conditions. The western tip of Illinois is also under Moderate Drought conditions. The current weather forecast is calling for a dry but cooler weekend, with the next rain chances toward the later part of next week, along with a warmup.
The six to ten day forecast is calling for above normal temperatures and precipitation. While the 8 to 14 day outlook is calling for below normal temperatures and below normal precipitation.
Here’s the latest on area river stages as of this morning: the Little Wabash River east of Fairfield is at 8.54 feet, below the 17 foot flood stage. At Clay City the stage is 6.13 feet, below its 18 foot flood stage. A rise to 11.8 feet is forecasted on Tuesday. At Carmi the river is at 6.16 feet. A rise to 13.5 feet is expected by Wednesday, but staying below the 27 foot flood stage. The Skillet Fork at Wayne City is at 6.46 feet, below the 15 foot flood stage, and the Wabash River at Mt. Carmel stands at 6.38 feet. A rise to 15.2 feet is expected the middle of next week. Flood stage is 19 feet.