Rising waters
Des Moines, Boone Rivers expected to reach flood stages soonBy ANNE BLANKENSHIP Daily Freeman-Journal Managing Editor
As the snow continues to melt and sporadic rain falls, officials continue to keep an eye on the rising Des Moines River near Stratford and the Boone River at Webster City. Both waterways are expected to reach flood stage in the coming days, if the forecasted warm weather and rainy conditions continue.
A flood warning was issued earlier this week for the Des Moines River near Stratford and from the Boone River to near the city of Boone. At noon on Wednesday, the stage was at 9.9 feet and rising. By 7 p.m., the stage was at nearly 11 feet. According to data from the Web site of the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service of the National Weather Service, flood stage on the Des Moines River near Stratford is 14 feet. The river is expected to hit flood stage by tonight and may continue to rise to more than 24 feet by early Wednesday morning.
A flood warning was also issued for the Boone River at Webster City or from Webster City to the Des Moines River. At noon on Wednesday, the Boone River had reached 5.4 feet and at 7 p.m., the level had reached nearly 7 feet. Flood stage is 12 feet and the forecast calls for the river to reach flood stage Sunday afternoon and continue rising to about 13 feet by Tuesday.
Contact Anne Blankenship at editor@freemanjournal.net or call 832-4350.
