USA – Rising Rivers Cause Flooding in Ohio and West Virginia

by in News, USA

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice issued a state of emergency on Saturday 17 February, 2018, for all 55 counties of the state due to flooding.

Heavy rain and some snow triggered flooding in several areas and caused rivers to rise including the Ohio, West Fork, Tiger Valley, Little Kanawha, Buckhannon and Monongahela.

Overflowing creeks and rivers also caused some flooding in eastern and southern Ohio, in particular in Jefferson and Belmont Counties, where emergency teams made several flood rescues on 17 February, according to local reports.

National Weather Service says that the Ohio River is at Pomeroy, Ohio, is above major flood stage (50 feet) and as of 19 February stood at 50.4 feet.

The Ohio is at moderate flood stage at 3 points in West Virginia: Belleville Lock, Racine Lock and Point Pleasant. The river is thought to have crested and levels are forecast to subside over the coming 24 to 48 hours. Along the Ohio River in Kentucky however, levels are still rising and the Ohio is above moderate flood stage at Ashland and Lloyd Greenup Lock.

Further heavy rain is expected over the coming days. NWS Cleveland issued a Flood Watch for Northwest Ohio earlier today.

NWS Wilmington said that the Ohio River at Cincinnati reached its flood stage of 52 feet as of 18 February.

“Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast. The river will continue to rise to near 55.9 feet by Wednesday morning before falling below flood stage Friday morning.”

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