PARKERSBURG-A series of rain and thunderstorms moved through the Mid-Ohio Valley Tuesday morning, raising the level of creeks and flooding roadways.
The National Weather Service in Charleston reported 1.53 inches of rain fell in the Parkersburg area Tuesday morning.
The area was under a flash flood watch for several hours Tuesday afternoon, before the watch expired Tuesday evening.
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A series of rain and thunderstorms moved through the Mid-Ohio Valley Tuesday, raising the level of c
Wood County agencies reported high water across roadways Tuesday morning and afternoon on Core Road, College Parkway, Stillwell Road and Little Stillwell Road, Old St. Marys Pike, Gihon Road, Tygart Creek, Waverly Road, Radcliff Run and Kanawha River Road.
The West Virginia Division of Highways District 3 reported some slips, including West Virginia 68 at J.P. Henry's just north of Parkersburg, Red Hill Road and Walker Road.
The DOH had crews working Tuesday to clear downed trees, the agency reported.
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Photo by Wayne Towner
High water runs through the parking lot at the River City Tavern and Grill on Murdoch Avenue Tuesday afternoon following a morning of rain and thunderstorms. The water was draining into Little Pond Run, raising the level of the stream as it made its way to the Ohio River.
No injuries had been reported. Lt. Melvin Turner with the Parkersburg Fire Department said his crew received a report about 1 p.m. Tuesday regarding a stalled vehicle in high water on College Parkway near its intersection with Parkview Way.
Turner said the fire department received a report that a car had tried to drive through the water on College Parkway, stalled and the motorist was having trouble opening her door.
When firefighters arrived, the motorist was out of the car and along the roadway, and they were able to pull the car out of the water, he said.
Turner stressed the importance of not trying to drive on water-covered roadways, because even a few inches of water can cause a vehicle to lose contact with the road surface.
"If you can't see the roadway, don't try to drive through the water," he said.
Officials in Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie and Washington counties reported few problems from the weather and rainfall Tuesday afternoon. Athens County officials closed several roads late Tuesday morning due to flooding, including sections of Ohio 691, Ohio 356, Ohio 56, Ohio 550, Ohio 690, Ohio 329, Ohio 144 and Ohio 681, along with some county roads.
According to the weather service, the rainfall is expected to continue today with showers and thunderstorms before 1 p.m., followed by a chance of showers between 1 and 2 p.m. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds, some as high as 28 mph. The chance of precipitation is 90 percent with new rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Beginning tonight, the rain is expected to abate, with mostly clear conditions tonight and sunny weather on Thursday. Friday's forecast calls for a 60 percent chance of showers, turning into a chance of showers and thunderstorms on Friday night and Saturday.
