Rivers will be flooded for days

Published 8:45 am Friday, February 12, 2010

FRANKLIN—Flood warnings are expected to remain in effect for several more days for portions of the Blackwater and Nottoway rivers.

The National Weather Service in Wakefield said Thursday morning that the flood warning for the Nottoway would remain in effect until at least Monday morning. The river had crested at 19.03 feet at 11:15 a.m. Thursday, three feet above the level that is considered flood stage. It was at 18.78 feet at 5:15 p.m.

The NWS said Virginia Route 653, Carys Bridge Road, was flooded at the Nottoway. Indian Town Road was under at least one foot of water Thursday afternoon. An adjacent field was also flooded, the water coming up to buildings owned by Hancock Peanut Co. in Courtland.

Meanwhile, a separate flood warning for the Blackwater remains in effect until at least Saturday afternoon. According to the NWS, the river was reported to be at 12.59 feet at 9:30 p.m. Thursday, just above the flood stage of 12 feet. A portion of Virginia Route 611, Joyners Bridge Road, is flooded on the Isle of Wight County side of the river.

Additional precipitation is not expected today, however there is at least a 30-percent chance of snow showers tonight beginning at 9 p.m. and continuing into Saturday afternoon. Daytime highs are expected to remain in the 40s through the weekend, but evening lows would be in the 20s until Sunday night, when a low of 31 is expected.

“I’m glad we’re going to have a few days, hopefully, without heavy precipitation,” Blackwater-Nottoway Riverkeeper Jeff Turner said Thursday. “As long as we don’t have any big rains, (the river levels) ought to start going down.”