Rain is expected to continue in sputters throughout the week and into the weekend. Forecasters said the downpour is coming in two burst, the first lasting through Thursday and another from Saturday into Sunday.
Pete Geogerian, Service Hydrologist at the National Weather Service in Jackson said the winter weather has come and gone but the rain is showing no sign of stopping.
“Most of the area is pretty wet just from the rain that we’ve received in the last week, but particularly the Cumberland River Basin and portions of the Kentucky River Basin,” said Geogerian. “They are going to be more susceptible to flooding especially as we get towards the end of the week.”
Ponding water on roadways is also possible.
“We always say this, ‘turn around, don’t drown’,” said Geogerian. “If you see a flooded roadway, especially at night, it’s really hard to judge how deep that water is and also the road may not be in very good shape underneath that water, so it’s always important to stay safe.”
He suggested people allow themselves a little more time to get to their destinations while flooding is possible. Temperatures will generally stay above freezing through Friday, so the threat of ice is unlikely.
Officials said the best way to be prepared for the rain is by being weather aware. Weather updates for eastern Kentucky and more information can be found at weather.gov.