Although the waters have begun to subside in some areas affected by the heavy rains from Wednesday night and Thursday, Sunflower County Emergency Management Director Ben Grant said the county is in an elevated-risk zone for bad weather. The possibility of flash flooding and severe storms are a threat to the county, especially between the hours of 6 p.m. and midnight on Saturday.
Grant said the severe storms could include heavy rainfall, damaging winds with gusts up to 35-40 mph and a possibility of tornados. He cautions that trees could be blown down with these high winds.
“Trees can be uprooted quickly with this soaked ground,” he said.
Grant said heavy rains falling on already soaked ground also further enhance the elevated likelihood of flash flooding.
As of 3 p.m. Friday, the Sunflower River was at 26.11 feet, the flood stage is 21.0 feet.
Grant said it was suppose to crest and be at 27.5 feet by 6 a.m. Saturday before beginning to descend, but he is skeptical of that happening in light of the forecast for more severe weather.
“The waters are trying to go down some, but if we get any more rain its going to come right back up,” Grant said.
He said they are still preparing sandbags just in case residents need them. Although water levels have been high, so far to his knowledge only a couple of persons have reported water in their home.
