Local Flooding ‘Possible,’ Not A Certainty
Record breaking cold temperatures and mounting snow accumulations has topped the news much of this winter and now, even with each day bringing us a little closer to spring, it seems the weather will continue to be a hot topic.
Meteorologists at the National Weather Service near North Webster have today said that patchy blowing and drifting snow could be an issue this afternoon as winds are expected to strengthen and sustain gusts of 25 mph. Mainly east-west roads will see some impacts.
For Wednesday night, a brief period of freezing rain is possible, but then much warmer temperatures are expected by Thursday. With today’s high of 40 degrees, Wednesday’s high of 37 degrees and Thursday’s expected high of 49 degrees, expect significant melting of snow and flood conditions by late this week.
Frozen ground conditions and expected thunderstorms on Thursday bringing the potential for heavy rainfall means all of the water will drain into area streams, creeks and rivers.
NWS forecasters add that warmer conditions and runoff later in the week will lead to some potential for break up and downstream movement of thick ice on rivers. That could increase the risk for ice jams to develop and increase flooding. Future flooding, however, is only a possibility at this time, not a certainty. A special weather statement by NWS notes, “The severity and timing of flooding will depend on the amount of rainfall received Thursday and the exact duration of warmer conditions.”
Weekend temperatures are currently forecast to be only in the low 30’s.
Kosciusko County joined and has participated in the National Flood Insurance Program in order to make flood insurance available to all those in the community since 1987. By participating, Kosciusko County has adopted and enforces the Flood Control Ordinance.
Those properties located within a special flood hazard area as determined by the Kosciusko County Flood Control and the Flood Insurance Rate Maps are subject to the regulations of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Indiana Division of Natural Resources and the Kosciusko County Flood Control Ordinance.
Should flooding become an issue causing widespread loss of property, FEMA aid could be available. Kosciusko County’s Emergency Management Office will provide information as necessary.
For those residents looking for sandbags, the county will have sand and bags available outside the fence at the Kosciusko County Highway Garage on Old Road 30. Also, starting Wednesday, sand and bags will also be available at the south end of the North Webster Community Center.
Those needing sandbags will need to bring their own shovel and manpower to fill and transport the bags.