The National Weather Service is warning that rain over the next couple of days could cause flooding in southern Missouri by the weekend.
This graphic from the National Weather Service’s Springfield office shows predicted rainfall totals Thursday and Friday.
Meteorologist Drew Albert says rain will begin to pick up tomorrow night.
“Through the day Saturday we are expecting quite a bit of rain. Anywhere from maybe about three inches or so in the Lake of the Ozarks region to maybe about as much as five inches along the Arkansas and Missouri border, near Branson and West Plains,” said Albert. “Probably the heaviest rain is going to fall Thursday night and Friday.”
Albert says holiday drivers should be prepared for possible flooding – especially those visiting areas they aren’t familiar with. He emphasizes that concern with low-water crossings.
“We just have so many of them, and even with last week’s rain we did have quite a few low-water crossings that were flooded and the soils are still very wet,” said Albert. “We are expecting a lot of road closures due to flooding down this way during a very busy travel weekend.”
“Given the number of people out on the roads, maybe even people that are unfamiliar with some of the roads they’re on, maybe visiting relatives or friends, if they see a flooded low-water crossing or a flooded road, definitely don’t go through it and find an alternate route,” Albert told Missourinet.
In north Missouri, the Weather Service is warning that cold temperatures late Thanksgiving night into Friday morning could turn some wet surfaces slick and present additional hazards.
