'Continuous rain' will bring Ohio River flooding this week. Here's what you need to know
Thomas Novelly
As rain continues to fall, meteorologists are predicting that the Ohio River will be near moderate flood stage by the end of the work week.
National Weather Service Louisville Meteorologist Mike Crow said the area will see "continuous rain" this week.
That's causing the Ohio River to rise quickly.
On Monday afternoon, at the McAlpine Upper Dam, the river level was at 21.73 feet: Nearing the 23-foot benchmark for it to be considered flood stage. It's expected to rise to nearly 30 feet — which is moderate flood stage — by Friday morning.
Read this:Do you know how to drive in the rain? Follow these safety tips
Flood warning starts Tuesday
While about an inch of rain fell between Sunday and Monday morning, meteorologists are sounding the alarm for later in the week.
The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for Kentucky and Southern Indiana cities near the Ohio River starting Tuesday afternoon until further notice.
The region is expected to receive 2 to 3 inches of rain through Wednesday, and parts of western Kentucky could see 3 to 4 inches, NWS meteorologist Jessica Bozell said.
The highest chance for flash flooding is Monday night, according to the NWS.
How does this flooding compare?
While the 30-foot prediction is noteworthy, it is well under some of the more devastating floods in Louisville's history.
In February 2018, the highest point of the Ohio River reached 35.6 feet at the McAlpine Upper Dam.
Flood levels for the devastating 1997 flood that caused nearly $200 million in damage was at 38.8 feet.
And during the Great Flood of 1937, the Ohio River crested 52.15 feet in January of that year.
Ohio River flood stage: Here's when roads close
At 23 feet, the Ohio River at the McAlpine Upper Dam in Louisville reaches its flood stage.
According to the National Weather Service, here are street closures and/or flooding concerns that correspond with the following river gauge heights at the McAlpine Upper Dam:
23 feet
- Sections of River Road are closed from Third to Eighth streets
- Areas of Eifler Beach and Juniper Beach are cut off
- Parts of Campbell Street, Frankfort Avenue and Mockingbird Valley Road close
- Right turns onto River Road from the Interstate 64 ramp are prohibited
24.5 feet
- Waldoah Beach and Transylvania Beach areas are cut off
- River Road near Indian Hills Trail floods
- Adams Street and Witherspoon Road close
26 feet
- Mockingbird Valley Road floods south of Mellwood Avenue
27 feet
- River Road floods at many locations from 3rd Street to Glenview
- Blankenbaker Lane closes south of River Road
- River Dell Road floods at Mellwood Avenue
- Riverside Drive floods at many locations
28 feet
- More sections of River Road floods
- Beachland Beach area is cut off
- Lime Kiln Lane floods south of River Road
Related:Is your home in a flood zone? New maps may change your insurance rates
Weather forecast this week
Here's the weather outlook for the Louisville area over the next few days:
Monday: Showers. High near 47. East wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts around three-quarters of an inch possible.
Monday night: Showers. Patchy fog. Temperature rise to 56 degrees. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three-quarters and 1 inch possible.
Tuesday: Showers likely, mainly before 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. Winds could gust as high as 38 mph.
Tuesday night: Slight chance of rain and snow showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. Breezy, with a west wind 20 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45. West wind 10 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
Wednesday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers after 1 p.m. Partly sunny, high near 56.
Thursday night: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 44. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.
Friday: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 55. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
Friday night: A chance of rain showers before 10 p.m., then a chance of rain and snow showers between 10 p.m. and midnight, then a chance of snow showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
See alsoThese 'ghost apples' were found on an orchard. How nature made them
This story is being provided free to all readers as a public service by the Louisville Courier Journal. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing today.