Area rivers remain near or just below flood stages following the heavy rainfall last week. The stages as of this morning are as follows: the Little Wabash River east of Fairfield is above flood stage at 21.24 feet. Flood stage is 17 feet. At Clay City the river is at 12.32 feet, below the 18-foot flood stage. At Carmi the river stands at 21.53 feet. Flood stage is 27 feet. The Skillet Fork at Wayne City is at 10.35 feet,below its 15-foot flood stage, and the Wabash River at Mt. Carmel is at 5.12 feet. Flood stage is 19 feet. Bonpas Creek at Browns is at 9.45 feet.
The recent heavy rainfall has taken away any dryness or drought concerns in the area for a while. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map shows only a couple of slivers of “Abnormally Dry” conditions in Illinois, and that is in the far east-central and northern areas of the state. The area should have a chance to dry out for the next several days, as the current weather forecast is not indicating any significant rain through this Friday. Storm-free conditions are also expected, following severe thunderstorms that moved through last week, knocking out power to several businesses and residences and downing power lines in the northern part of Wayne County. A warmup is expected this week, followed by a cooldown.
Longer range outlooks are showing below normal temperatures and precipitation in the six to ten day outlook, and near normal temperatures and precip in the 8 to 14 day outlooks, running through August 17th. The 30 day outlook for the month of August is favoring above normal temperatures and “equal chances” for above or below normal precipitation.
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