More Rain Expected as the Red River Rises
While the limbo asks how low can you go -- the question around here is just how high can the Red River go? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, better known as NOAA, is continually updating its information concerning the depth and timing of the predicted crests along the Red River.
As of Wednesday, officials were saying the crest at Pecan Point just north of De Kalb, Texas, should occur sometime between Thursday morning and Friday morning. The prediction is 34.4 feet, which would be in line with what happened during the big flood of 1990. Further east, the river should crest Monday at the Index bridge at a level near 30 feet compared to 32 feet in 1990. Even further east, the river should crest next Wednesday at Fulton at a level of around 32 feet, compared to 34 feet 25 years ago.
These levels would produce major flooding at Pecan Point, at least moderate flooding at Index, and minor to moderate flooding around Fulton. Those with interest should already be moving livestock and machinery to higher ground as tens of thousand of acres of land will be flooded.
The question will be just how much more rain will the affected areas receive in the next week? That is not entirely clear, but another weather system is expected to affect the region late week into the weekend. Once again, heavy rain is possible and several more inches of rain, at the least, is anticipated. This would likely add to the flooding problems.
Forecasters say the frequency and intensity of the storms should begin to lesson as we head into the summer months and as the jet stream relaxes and moves further to north.