The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Warning for the Kaskaskia River in Vandalia, which is expected to crest about 10 feet above flood stage.
The NWS says they are expecting the river to begin rising today, starting out at just 7.3 feet last night, and rising to near it’s 18 foot flood stage on Sunday. The river is expected to go above flood stage after that and reach a crest of 28.3 feet on Tuesday morning. At that level, we see water going over the Dively and Vandalia Levees, we see flooding along 4th Street and St. Clair Street intersection and at the 4th Street area near Jefferson Street. At that level, the left bank levee just south of U.S. Route 51 bridge is overtopped. After reaching that crest, the river is expected to start coming down from that point. The heavy rains will continue throughout this weekend. A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect throughout the entire weekend.