Flood watch for Poplar Bluff begins tonight

Flood watch for Poplar Bluff tonight

By JOE McGRAW

Staff Writer

The National Weather Service - Paducah has issued a flood watch for Poplar Bluff and the surrounding area from 3 a.m. Thursday to 3 a.m. Friday. General rainfall is expected to reach 1.5 to 2 inches but some areas could see as much as 3 to 4 inches.

The precipitation is forecast to begin around midnight tonight.

NWS Meteorologist Kate Shawkey said the region is moving into the rainy part of the year, but this weather event is somewhat sooner than expected.

“We’ll be moving into our wetter season,” she stated, “This is not necessarily unusual, but it is a little early.”

Shawkey cautioned residents to avoid low-lying areas and not to attempt crossing flooded roadways. She encouraged drivers to report inundated streets to the authorities as soon as possible.