Heavy rainfall across central Illinois and Indiana is expected to send the Wabash River out of its banks across portions of Southern Illinois over the next several days.
The National Weather Service forecasts the Wabash River at Mount Carmel to rise from 9.26 feet Sunday to approximately 23.1 feet by Wednesday, August 26th. That would put the river more than five feet above flood stage.
The rising water is expected to impact low-lying farmland and oilfields along the river.
Farther downstream at New Harmony, the Wabash is forecast to climb from 4.84 feet Sunday to approximately 17.5 feet by August 25th, an increase of more than 12 feet.
Other area rivers, including the Little Wabash and Skillet Fork, are expected to remain below flood stage unless additional heavy rainfall occurs.