WHEELING - Melting snow plus a soaking rain overnight Sunday have weather watchers keeping an eye on local creeks and the Ohio River.
Minor creek flooding was reported Sunday night and early today in parts of Ohio County where 1.71 inches of rain fell within the past 24 hours. In Ohio County, high water and runoff from Sunday's heavy rain caused some water to creep onto the North Fork of Short Creek. The water did not affect travel in the area. Schools in Ohio County are operating on a normal schedule.
Marshall County Schools were operating on a two-hour delay today as several creeks in the area were at their top of their banks but had not spilled onto roads. Marshall County Office of Emergency Management officials said they were monitoring the creeks and the Ohio River but did not anticipate any major problems. The school delay was called as a precautionary measure.
Article Photos
Photo by Scott McCloskey
With the Ohio River rising, Mario Petrini, an employee with Savage Heavy Highway Corp., removes tarps from a work area at Wheeling’s Heritage Port this morning. The work is being done for Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation.
Meanwhile, the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh predicts that the Ohio River in Wheeling will crest at 35 feet on Wednesday morning. That is one foot below flood stage. In Moundsville, the river is predicted to crest at 34 1/2 feet on Wednesday, which also is below flood stage. However, that prediction could change depending on the amount of rain received in the headwaters in Pennsylvania.
Pike Island Locks and Dam located on the Ohio River just north of Warwood reported that 1.71 inches of rain fell on Sunday in Ohio County. As of mid-morning today, the Ohio River at Pike Island was at 22.4 feet and rising.
The rain was expected to diminish tonight when a strong cold front will move through the area, bringing colder temperatures and a chance of snow showers. The wind will pick up, gusting up to 25 or 30 mph beginning this afternoon and continuing overnight into Tuesday. Snow showers and temperatures in the lower 30s are predicted for Tuesday.