More storms could mean more flooding in Rock County area

By Gazette staff

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

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Although a flash-flood warning for south-central Wisconsin has ended, the area could still be hit with thunderstorms this week, and flooding could become an issue if that happens.
Meteorologist Marcia Cronce from the National Weather Service said the warning was for weather rolling through the upper Midwest. Sunday night, a weather system went through Iowa and reached northern Illinois.
“If we do get under one of these big complexes, then the risk is there that we would have some flash-flooding concerns,” Cronce said.
A large complex of thunderstorms could develop anywhere in the upper Midwest between today and Wednesday. Even without substantial additional rain, the Rock River is likely to reach a minor flooding point by Monday, Cronce said.
The river is expected to reach 9.3 feet at Afton Road south of Janesville in the next week.
Flood stage is declared at 9 feet, which the National Weather Service describes as “minor flood damage … in lowland and agricultural land adjacent to the river.”
Current predictions are “based on a forecast precipitation amount at a conservative level.” Cronce said she does not know when the rain will occur, so the forecast could change.
“We are in a weather pattern where a thunderstorm complex can roll through and dump very heavy rain on any part of south-central Wisconsin,” she said.

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Published at: http://www.GazetteXtra.com/news/2013/jun/25/more-storms-could-mean-more-flooding-rock-county-a/