In the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl’s heavy rainfall in Southeast Missouri Tuesday morning, all eyes are on the surging water levels on the Black and Current rivers. The heavy rain came less than two weeks after the record rainfall of June 26.
At the writing of this article, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts a crest of 12 feet for the Black River at Poplar Bluff at 7 p.m. Wednesday. June 26’s record rainfall caused the Black River to reach 11.94 feet.
NOAA does not consider the river in flood stage until it exceeds 16 feet. Regardless, floodgates need to be closed at 12 feet.
The Current River is expected to reach 7 feet at Doniphan and 8.7 feet at Van Buren at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday respectively. Poplar Bluff received 1.95 inches of rainfall over the course of Monday night and Tuesday morning, according to the National Weather Service - Paducah.
NWS meteorologist Kate Shawkey informed Beryl is still moving through the area with the center of the system over central Arkansas as of Tuesday morning.
“We are expecting more rain today,” she noted, “We could see a total of three inches.”
Shawkey also cautioned that damaging winds may result from the system later in the afternoon. She clarified the river crest predictions include the worst-case scenario of three inches of rain.
Butler County Emergency Manager Robbie Myers remained optimistic about the potential for flooding. “It looks like the river will crest tomorrow and not be a big problem,” he said.
Myers said the Clearwater Dam has not needed to restrict the flow of the Black River at this time. Stoddard County Emergency Management Director Beau Bishop shared the same outlook.
“It’s been fairly slow,” he commented on the rainfall.
Bishop said the water had mostly drained away by Tuesday morning.