The National Weather Service says the rain in flood-stricken areas should taper off tomorrow (Friday), but another round of storms is expected tomorrow. Doug Cramer with the National Weather Service in Springfield says Several areas of Central and Southern Missouri have gotten more than 15 inches of rain in the last five days … up to ten inches along the Missouri and Arkansas border.
He says the same hard-hit area though will start seeing another round of showers and thunderstorms starting early Saturday morning. Two to three inches are expected for Central and Southern Missouri during that timeframe, but Cramer asks people to keep in mind that locally heavier amounts are possible.
Three deaths are blamed on the flooding; hundreds of people have had to evacuate their homes and businesses.
Counties hardest hit include: Laclede, Texas, Camden, Pulaski, Gasconade, Barry, Stone, and Taney.
Central Missouri is getting more rain this afternoon and the National Weather Service says an addition three to five inches is expected today.
The Department of Transportation has closed Highway 50 at Mount Sterling in Gasconade County. Motorists are being detoured to 54 to I-70 to 19. The National Weather Service says river levels are dropping near Interstate 44, which is open right now, but because of the current storms moving through the area, MoDOT says it is not confident I-44 will remain open.
Motorists should check the MoDOT Traveler Information Map at www.modot.org, or download the free Traveler Information Map App through a smart device marketplace or call MoDOT Customer Service at 1-888-275-6636 for up-to-date flood closure information.
Should Interstate 44 close again, drivers should leave the highway at the next practical exit, MoDOT officials say.
(Forecast information begins in the following video at 2:48. Before that, Cramer takes a look at what has rolled through so far.)
