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RWUS32 KSTL 170703

FFSSTL

MOZ072>074-084-085-099-170945-



FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO

145 AM CDT FRI MAY 17 2002



...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR REYNOLDS...MADISON... 

IRON AND ST. FRANCOIS COUNTIES UNTIL 445 AM CDT...



...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CRAWFORD AND 

WASHINGTON COUNTIES UNTIL 315 AM CDT...



AT 140 AM CDT...LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED EVACUATIONS OF SEVERAL 

HOMES ALONG SALINE CREEK IN FREDERICKTOWN...AS WELL AS SEVERAL LOW 

WATER BRIDGES CLOSED IN FREDERICKTOWN DUE TO THE HIGH WATER.  LOW 

WATER CROSSINGS AND A FEW RURAL ROADS WERE IMPASSABLE IN ST FRANCOIS 

AND IRON COUNTIES.  WATER ABOUT 4 INCHES DEEP WAS REPORTED ON ROADS 

IN ARCADIA.



RADAR CONTINUED TO SHOW THUNDERSTORMS CONTAINING HEAVY RAINFALL 

MOVING EASTWARD THROUGH SOUTHEASTERN MISSOURI...MAINLY SOUTH OF A 

LINE FROM STEELVILLE MISSOURI EAST TO CHESTER ILLINOIS.  THE 

HEAVIEST RAIN WAS FALLING BETWEEN ELLINGTON AND FREDERICKTOWN.  

DOPPLER RADAR WAS ESTIMATING THAT 2 TO 2 AND ONE HALF INCHES OF RAIN 

HAVE FALLEN DURING THE PAST THREE HOURS IN BUNKER AND ALSO FROM 

IRONTON TO FREDERICKTOWN AND MARQUAND.  ADDITIONAL RAINFALL TOTALS 

OF ONE TO TWO INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED IN THE NEXT TWO HOURS FROM 

ELLINGTON TO FARMINGTON AS THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO DUMP HEAVY 

RAINS REPEATEDLY OVER THE SAME AREAS.



EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM THIS STORM WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING OF SMALL

CREEKS AND STREAMS...HIGHWAYS AND UNDERPASSES. ADDITIONALLY...COUNTRY

ROADS AND FARMLANDS ALONG THE BANKS OF CREEKS AND STREAMS AND OTHER

LOW LYING AREAS ARE SUBJECT TO FLASH FLOODING.



BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE

DANGERS OF FLOODS AND FLASH FLOODS. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT

QUICKLY. MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY

IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.



MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. AVOID BRIDGES...DIPS...

OR OTHER LOW LYING AREAS...AND NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS

WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT

TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS SAFELY. VEHICLES CAUGHT IN RISING WATER

SHOULD BE ABANDONED QUICKLY. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.

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