If your morning commute involves crossing any of the bridges over the Ohio River, you may have noticed the progressively rising water level over the past week.
After significant precipitation throughout the region, the National Weather Service predicts that the Ohio River will continue to rise, and it is expected to hit flood stage by Saturday, Feb. 15.
Currently, the river is around 47 feet — seven feet above “action” stage. Flood stage begins at 52 feet, and this Saturday, levels are expected to hit 53.5 feet.
According to the NWS, at this level, “the access road at Covington Landing becomes flooded. Flooding begins on Riverside Drive in Covington. Flooding in California worsens as well as in Anderson Township. New Richmond in Clermont County also experiences flooding, as well as worsening flooding in the East End. Backwater flooding up Laughery Creek between Dearborn and Ohio Counties in Indiana causes flooding along Nelson Road and Cole Lane. Lower levels of Smale Park and Bellevue Beach Park are flooded.”
Historically, the highest water level recorded was 80 feet in 1937.
For more updates, visit nationalweatherservice.com.
This article appears in Feb 5-18, 2020.