Flood Warning Issued for East Fork White River at Columbus Through Sunday Morning

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis IN has issued a Flood Warning for the East Fork White River at Columbus. This alert follows reports of 2 to 4 inches of rain falling across central Indiana, with up to 2 inches recorded in south-central Indiana as of early Wednesday morning.

Affected Areas

The primary geographic regions affected include Bartholomew and Jackson counties in Indiana. Specific attention is directed toward the East Fork White River at Columbus. Other rivers in the region, including the Big Blue, Driftwood, Flatrock, White, and Eel rivers, are also under monitoring or warnings as creeks rise above flood stage.

What You Should Do

Residents and travelers in the affected areas are advised to take the following precautions:

• Do not drive through flooded areas: Motorists should never attempt to drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth.
• Stay Informed: Monitor local weather updates. The next official statement from the NWS is expected by approximately 7:00 PM EST this evening.
• Avoid Riverbanks: Stay away from rising river waters and flooded creeks.

Expected Conditions

Minor flooding is currently forecast for the East Fork White River at Columbus.

• Current Stage: As of 3:00 AM EST Wednesday, the river stage was 2.3 feet.
• Flood Stage: The flood stage for this location is 9.0 feet.
• Forecast Crest: The river is expected to rise to a crest of 10.9 feet by early Friday afternoon.
• Historical Context: At a stage of 11.2 feet, State Road 11 in the Garden City area typically closes. During the March 2008 flood, nearly every road crossing the East Fork White River in Bartholomew County, except for State Road 46, was submerged.

Timeline

The Flood Warning is effective from late tonight, March 5, through Sunday morning, March 8. The river is expected to rise above flood stage late tonight, reach its crest on Friday afternoon, and fall below flood stage by Saturday evening.