Monday Flood Warnings
O'NEILL - Several bridges have been washed out or compromised due to flooding upstream on the Elkhorn River. That includes the Highway 20 and 275 bridge over the Elkhorn River southeast of O'Neill, the Highway 281 bridge over the south fork of the Elkhorn south of O'Neill -- and the bridge on Highway 11 south of Atkinson. A flood warning is in effect until 11:30 Tuesday morning for Boyd, Garfield, Holt and Wheeler counties. Numerous sand bagging operations are underway across north central Nebraska as well. Though light rain and drizzle will be possible through the day and little additional amounts are expected.
EWING - The Elkhorn River near Ewing remains at record flood levels. Significant flooding can be expected from near Atkinson downstream through Ewing. As of 12 noon, the river at Ewing was at 13.1 feet which is at a record level. The last record on the Elkhorn at Ewing was 11.3 feet in June of 1947. Sand bagging has been taking place over the past two days. The river is expected to continue to rise overnight -- and the current forecast has a crest of 13 feet today. River levels at Ewing above 12 feet will persist through Wednesday evening but remain above flood stage through at least next weekend.
CLEARWATER - Clearwater and Neligh have been hit hard by floodwaters from the Elkhorn River. Region 11 Emergency Manager Faythe Petersen says disaster declarations have been made in that area. She says Riverside Park in Neligh is under water and and the swinging bridge there has been lost. In Clearwater, Petersen tells WJAG NEWS the north side of community is in a "dangerous situation" of being lost. She says 10,000 sandbags have been used in that area and thousands more are being brought in.
PIERCE - The North Fork River near Pierce was at 13.9 feet as of this morning -- nearly two feet above flood stage. The river should remain nearly steady today, but then slowly fall to below flood stage by early Wednesday morning.
VERDEL - A flood warning continues on the Ponca Creek at Verdel in Knox County where the creek was 13.7 feet this morning -- above the 12 foot flood stage. It should remain above flood stage today and may drop below flood stage by tonight.
PILGER - The Elkhorn River at Pilger was just above flood stage at 12.2 feet at 9:45 this morning while its was at 12.7 feet at West Point. The river at Hooper was at 14.2 feet at 9:15 this morning. It was have a maximum value of 15.4 feet at Hooper by early afternoon on Wednesday.
ALBION - A flash flood warning remains in effect for southwestern Boone County along Cedar Creek has been extended until 8:00 Monday evening. At 1:45 this afternoon, high water was still threatening the integrity of the Spalding Lake Dam on the Cedar River near Spalding. Water was overtopping the dam and the threat of flash flooding along the Cedar River was still high enough to extend the flash flood warning until 8 p.m. A dam upstream on the Cedar River at Ericson failed Sunday evening and high water continued to move downstream in Greeley County today. Flooding of the Cedar River is likely in southwest Boone County as this water moves downstream. Some locations that will experience flooding include Cedar Rapids and other communities along the Cedar River.
COLUMBUS - The already swollen Loup River will continue to rise slowly and is expected to crest late Tuesday night into early Wednesday. Upstream, Spalding Lake Dam was being overtopped by rising flood waters, but remained intact as of 10:00 this morning. The integrity of the dam continues to be monitored by law enforcement. This should have little impact on the Loup River toward Columbus and the Platte River southeast of Columbus.
COLUMBUS - The Shell Creek near Columbus was at 21 feet at 11:30 this morning -- about a foot above flood stage. Moderate flooding is occurring and is forecast to continue. Shell Creek will continue to rise to near 21 feet by this afternoon. The Creek there will continue to fall below flood stage by Tuesday.
SCRIBNER - A flood warning remains in effect until 9:00 Tuesday morning for Colfax, Dodge County and Platte County. Flooding was occurring across much of the warned area -- especially along the Platte River from Columbus, downstream through Fremont, along the Shell Creek, Rawhide Creek and Maple Creek. Water has closed many roads including -- but not limited to -- Highway 275 near Scribner and Highway 77 in Winslow.
