Heavy rain swells rivers, covers roads; Bartholomew County under tornado watch

Some of the worst flooding in five years may develop in south central Indiana through Friday.

Heavy rains of at least 2 to 3 inches fell in central Indiana early Tuesday morning. Additional rains of an inch or more were expected Tuesday afternoon and evening, according to the National Weather Service in Indianapolis.

That means numerous roads and some residential areas either have already flooded or will flood over the next few days.

As of mid-afternoon Tuesday, these high-water trouble spots were listed by Shannan Hinton, Bartholomew County Emergency Management director:

  • Rocky Ford Road west of Marr Road
  • County Road 450N between 250E and Talley Road

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  • County Road 225N between Newbern Road and State Road 9, which closed
  • High-water signs were being placed on South Gladstone just south of the bridge
  • County Road 800N just west of County Road 100
  • County Road 620N east of County Road 900E
  • West County Road 930S between county roads 300W and 400W, with water over the roadway making it impassable
  • West County Road 850S at South County Road 400W, water over roadway

Watch areas

East Fork White River will remain under a flood warning in Columbus through late Friday night, according to the weather service. High water forced Bartholomew officials to close State Road 11 in the Garden City area Tuesday.

Based on historical high-water conditions, highly traveled roads that may have to close include Jonathan Moore Pike from Interstate 65 to near downtown Columbus, as well as Southern Crossing, the weather service warned.

In addition, nearly a dozen homes in the Walesboro area could become flooded, based on historic data.

The Flatrock River will remain under a flood warning in Bartholomew County until Thursday evening. It is expected to crest nearly 7 feet above flood stage by this morning, the weather service stated.

Based on the June 2008 flood, water levels could remain high at the Noblitt Lagoons for quite some time after the rains stop, the weather service stated. People with homes near the lagoons were preparing Tuesday for high water.

It took five or six days, as well as six to eight industrial pumps, to return the lagoons to normal levels 10 years ago, according to weather records.

Several portions of the People Trail system, Mill Race Park and Noblitt Park were closed Tuesday due to high water, according to the Columbus Parks Department.

Due to heavy morning rains, as well as additional storms in the forecast, the department warned that more sections of the trail may become inaccessible.

Bicyclists and pedestrians are reminded not only to wait for the water to recede but also until all mud and debris has been cleared before resuming use of the trails.

The Driftwood River near Edinburgh was expected to rise to nearly 5 feet above the 11-foot flood stage, the weather service stated. The river is expected to remain under a flood warning through Saturday evening.

Sections of Tannehill Road west of the river bridge, as well as County Road 325W south of Lowell Road, are expected to remain flooded for the next few days, according to the weather service. High water also was threatening several residences and seasonal homes along county roads 330W and 325W.

Clifty Creek at Hartsville will remain under a flood warning until further notice, according to weather bulletins.

It was expected to crest a foot and a half above flood stage Tuesday afternoon. But additional rains could cause the level to rise further than the predicted 12.1 feet, the weather service stated.

Flooding is possible this week along roads such as 1150E, 225N and possibly Sunland Road, according to advisories issued Tuesday. Some residential property may also begin to flood.

Haw Creek near Clifford was expected to remain under a flood warning until early this morning, the NWS stated. With the water level already 1.6 feet above flood stage by late Tuesday morning, minor flooding was expected for the rest of the day, but levels were expected to drop below flood stage overnight, the weather service stated.

When similar flooding occurred on April 20, 2011, it prompted officials to close Rocky Ford Road, just west of Marr Road, due to high water on the west side of the bridge.

Tornado watch

Early Tuesday afternoon, the National Weather Service placed most of Indiana, including Bartholomew County, under a tornado watch that was expected to expire at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Adding to the anxiety over high-water and a tornado watch was a malfunctioning Everbridge emergency-alert system Tuesday.

“We are aware of the Everbridge issues and understand the frustration everyone is experiencing with the multiple calls and alerts,” Bartholomew County Emergency Management posted on its Facebook page shortly before 2 p.m. Tuesday. “We apologize for the inconvenience.”

The Facebook page included complaints from people who had been receiving as many as 10 phone calls and six messages within a 10-minute period, some of them who said they were opting out of the Everbridge alert system or considering doing so.