Heavy rain drenches Southeast Missouri

Precipitation pummeled the region Tuesday afternoon, closing some local roadways due to flooding but causing few accidents.

According to readings at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport, 2.46 inches of rain fell between early Tuesday and 7:53 p.m., the National Weather Service reported.

Most of the rain fell between 1 and 2 p.m. and between 4 and 5 p.m., totaling 0.6 and 0.66 inches, respectively. Monday saw 0.14 inches of rainfall for the whole day.

The rapid rainfall came at a cost: concerns about flooding.

A flash flood warning was issued at 5:31 p.m. Tuesday for Scott County, and Alexander and Pulaski counties in Illinois due to heavy rainfall saturating the areas, according to the weather service.

Five roadways in Scott County were closed Tuesday night due to flooding from rainfall: Route A, County Road 234, County Road 329, U.S. 61 and Highway 91. All the roadways were expected to open back up sometime today, a Scott County Sheriff's Department dispatcher said.

Sections of Main Street and parts of City Park in Jackson were closed for about 30 minutes due to flooding before reopening Tuesday afternoon, a police dispatcher said. There were no reports of weather-related accidents in town or of vehicles becoming stranded in standing water, she said.

Dispatchers from the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol said they had no reports of weather-related accidents or flooding over roadways Tuesday.

Between Monday and Tuesday's rainfall, Cape Girardeau had at least two accidents attributed to the wet roadways, according to police Sgt. Barry Hovis.

"Remember it's different driving on slick pavement than on dry pavement," Hovis said, advising all motorists to slow down and allow for extra time for stopping during rain.

Today's high is expected to be 88 degrees, with a low of 73 and mostly cloudy skies, National Weather Service meteorologist Robin Smith said in Paducah, Ky. There is a 60 to 70 percent chance of rain through this afternoon, he added. A 40 percent chance of more rain exists into Thursday night.

Rainfall in the area is expected to taper off Friday evening, according to Smith. The weekend forecast is partly cloudy to sunny, very hot and humid with highs in the mid-90s and a heat index of 105 degrees, he said.

kmorrison@semissourian.com

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