Flood Warnings, Flash Flood Watch Issued for Lafayette County Through Sunday

By Alyssa Schnugg
News Editor
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com

Chart from the National Weather Service

As the rain continues to fall this morning, the National Weather Service has issued Flood Warnings for local rivers and a Flash Flood Watch for Lafayette County that run through Sunday.

Heavy rainfall is expected to continue today through Saturday as an elevated warm front moves into the area. The front will move north tonight as additional thunderstorms develop in a warm and humid air mass across the Mid-South.

About 1 to 3 inches are expected to fall in Oxford today.

On Saturday, showers and thunderstorms are expected in advance of a Pacific cold front moving into the South. In total, 2 to 5 inches of rain is possible Saturday, with isolated 3 to 6 inches possible in Oxford, according to the NWS.

The heavy rains falling on already saturated ground could cause flooding of local roads and low-lining areas this morning around Lafayette County.

There is an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms Saturday along and south of the I-40 corridor, and a slight risk of severe thunderstorms to the north of I-40. Damaging winds and flash flooding will be primary threats. A brief tornado or two will be possible Saturday afternoon.

Local rivers are also quickly reaching or exceeding flood levels, according to the NWS, which has issued a Flood Warning for the Yocona River and Little Tallahatchie Canal.

Flooding has started to occur at the Yocona River run-off. Photo provided

At 6 a.m. this morning, the Yocona River was at 25.4 feet. Flood stage begins at 25 feet. The river will continue to rise near 27.5 feet by Saturday and then is expected to fall back down to below flood level on Sunday.

At 25 feet, minor flooding is expected. At 28 feet, most of the flood plain would be inundated and widespread agricultural flooding could occur.

The Little Tallahatchie Canal at Etta near New Albany is at 25.5 feet as of this morning and rising. The river is expected to rise to 29 feet by Saturday and fall below flood level by Monday.

At 29.0 feet, the post office and businesses and homes in the low lying area near the river in New Albany could flood. Several homes along County Highway 46 are flooded. Flood water is covering County Highways 46 and 47. Flood waters are approaching the level of Highway 355 near Etta.

This a developing story. Watch Hottytoddy.com for updates.