OHIO RIVER AT CINCINNATI- WATER LEVELS
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MARCH 13, 2015
CINCINNATI, OHIO
Projections for the Ohio River's max crest rose more than a
foot on Friday.
The National Weather Service originally predicted a max
crest of 55 feet Thursday, but this was changed around 11:15 a.m. to 56.3 feet and
to 56.5 feet around 2:15 p.m.
This caused the National Weather Service to upgrade a
forecast of minor flooding to moderate.
Moderate flooding occurs when the river stage reaches higher
than 56 feet.
The stage was measured at 53.07 feet at 3 p.m. This puts the
Ohio River past the flood stage of 52 feet and the weather service said that
minor flooding has already occurred.
The weather service also issued a flood watch for the entire
region and predicted up to 2 inches of consistent, heavy rain by Sunday
morning.
If predictions hold, the river could reach water levels it
hasn't hit since 2011.
"We're looking at all of this recent rainfall and a
very saturated ground and now a good soaking amount of rainfall is moving
in," said Mike Kurz, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service in
Wilmington. "All of that is going to turn into a significant amount of
runoff."
If the river reaches 56 feet, this would be the highest the
stage has risen since 2011 when the river peaked at 55.89 feet on March 13,
Kurz said.
Officials closed floodgates in Queensgate Thursday evening
in preparation for the weekend.
They haven't done that since 2011, said Jeff Oxenham, a
senior engineer for the Metropolitan Sewer District.
But closing the floodgates on Carr Street between Mehring
Way and W. 6th Street is a requirement to keep the area from flooding when the
river rises above 55.5 inches.
"These floodgates protect a lot of business in
Queensgate here," Oxenham said. "We're being a little cautious, but
this is not something we can afford a mistake on."
Crews spent about four hours closing the gates on Carr
Street Thursday evening.
"We're looking at technology from the '40s here,"
Oxenham said. "It works, but it doesn't close as fast as some of the more
modern gates."
The mile-and-a-half floodwall along the Mill Creek Valley
was put up in the 1940s, but not quite in time to help protect the city from
the flood of 1937 -- when the Ohio River crested at a record 79.9 feet.
Additional floodgates along the wall can be closed if the
river is projected to reach higher levels. Oxenham said the next gate (that
likely won't be closed this weekend) is on Mehring Way and only closes when the
Ohio River reaches more than 57 feet.
The gates will remain closed through at least Monday,
according the Metropolitan Sewer District.
Last weekend, a number of river-bordering areas and streets
were underwater after last week's snow melt and rains -- parts of Cincinnati's
Coney Island were flooded; Kellogg Avenue was closed near the Riverbend Music
Center; and Campbell County was forced to close several local roads.
The weather service warned that roads near the river will
flood again along with parts of Anderson Township, the East End and California
near the river. Sections along Ohio 52 in Hamilton and Clermont counties were
also listed in danger.
The river is expected to remain above the flood stage until
Monday.
Roads and floodgate closures
Debolt Street near Clear Creek Park is closed due to high
water.
Kellogg Road at Sutton Road closed due to high water.
Four Mile Road at Kellogg Road closed due to high water.
Eight Mile Road at State Route 52 closed due to high water.
Floodgate closure at Carr Street between W. 6th Street and
Mehring Way.
The weekend ahead
Friday: Rain, starting at 8 a.m. and continuing throughout
the day. Highs near 53.
Friday night: Rain. Low temperatures around 49.
Saturday: More rain, likely tapering off around 11 a.m.
Highs near 58. Chance of rain is 90 percent.
Saturday night: Rain ends. Partly cloudy with lows around
34.
Sunday: Sunny with a high of 56.
Sunday night: Clear with a low around 36.
Source: http://www.cincinnati.com