Storm causes Q-C flooding, lingers over Moline

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By Barb Ickes and Thomas Geyer | Saturday, September 13, 2008 11:29 PM CDT | () comments

A driver goes past a flooded storm sewer Saturday morning on River Drive near Federal Street in Davenport. Barricades were up around the open manhole allowing drivers to pass through. (Andrew Link/Quad-City Times) Buy this Photo

Loyal farmer's market customers braved the rain Saturday to shop at the weekly market near Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport. (Andrew Link/Quad-City Times) Buy this Photo

Quad-City residents can expect a bit more wet weather during the daylight hours today but should see the rains diminishing by late afternoon, the National Weather Service, Davenport, reports.

“That will be the remnants of Hurricane Ike that will be moving across the area,” meteorologist Tom Philip said late Saturday. “Most of that rain will be falling down by St. Louis and into the central and southern portions of Illinois.”

About a quarter to a half an inch of rain is expected today, Philip said, while some localized areas could see more if a thunderstorm hits.

But by tonight, the weather should start drying out, he added.

Monday is expected to be clear and cool with a high in the middle 60s. Clear skies are expected throughout the week as daytime highs warm back up into the 70s.

Philip said the heaviest rain band will set up over the Green River basin in Henry County, Ill., east to Chicago.

“That whole stretch has received 5 to 6 inches of rain,” he said, adding that Ike will pour more rain into the Green River basin.

Consequently, both the Green River in Geneseo, Ill., and the Rock River at both Joslin, Ill., and Moline will experience flooding, he said.

* The Green River at Geneseo stood at 16.4 feet at 7 p.m. Saturday. It is expected to crest at 22 feet Monday morning. Flood stage is 15 feet.

* The Rock River at Moline was at 11.09 feet at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. It is expected to crest there at 13.8 feet Tuesday morning. Flood stage is 12 feet.

* The Rock River at Joslin was at 8.51 feet at 8:30 p.m. Saturday. It is expected to crest there at 12.9 feet Tuesday morning. Flood stage there is also 12 feet.

Moline hit twice as hard as Davenport

Moline was hit with 4.62 inches of rainfall from 7 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday, followed by another 1.7 inches after 7 a.m., Philip said.

Moline got almost twice as much rain as Davenport, Philip said, because of a slow-moving band of heavy precipitation that hung over Moline while mostly bypassing Davenport. The Iowa side was not spared, of course, and Davenport got 2.4 inches of rainfall by 7 a.m. Saturday.

The total rainfall for Friday and Saturday officially in the Quad-Cities was 6.44 inches, Philip said. On Friday, 2.29 inches fell while on Saturday 4.15 inches was recorded.

Flash flooding threat todayA flash flood watch for the Quad-City region remains in effect until this afternoon.

Parts of Davenport, Moline and East Moline were hit with flash flooding Saturday. The watch was issued for southern Scott, Muscatine, Rock Island and Whiteside counties.

Doppler radar showed continued moderate to heavy rainfall moving across the Quad-Cities, weather service officials said. They also announced that Duck Creek in Scott County was running near its banks Saturday.

Motorists are warned they should not drive on flooded roads.

“Most fatalities occur in vehicles swept away in floodwaters as shallow as one foot,” a National Weather Service statement warned.

With exception to Interstate 280 near Milan, Ill., where Mill Creek overflowed its banks and flooded all lanes of the highway, which had to be closed for several hours Saturday evening, no city streets in the Quad-City metropolitan area were closed due to flooding.

Barricades marked parts of River Drive in Davenport where overwhelmed storm sewers were pushing floodwaters over the road.

The National Weather Service reported that in Henry County water is covering numerous roadways, from interstates to township roads, due to the bloated Green River.

Interstate flooding

Interstate 280 remained closed near Milan, Ill., late Saturday due to the flooding along Mill Creek, Capt. Jeffrey Patterson of the Illinois State Police District 7 said.

Heavy rain caused the highway to flood Saturday afternoon at mile post 15.

A detour for westbound traffic has been set up at exit 15 to Illinois 67 south to Andalusia Road. Traffic is to proceed west on Andalusia to Illinois 92 and then north to the interstate.

A detour for eastbound traffic has been set up at Illinois 92 to Andalusia Road and then to Illinois 67.

Officials said flooding of rural roadways is possible as more rain is in the forecast for this morning.

Arrowhead Ranch Roundup postponed

The 36th annual Arrowhead Ranch Roundup in Coal Valley, Ill., that was scheduled for Sunday has been postponed.

Organizers said they are being forced to reschedule the auction and community event because of several inches of water on the field that is used for the Roundup. A makeup date has not yet been scheduled, but organizers said it likely will be held in October.

Barb Ickes can be contacted at (563) 383-2316 or bickes@qctimes.com.

Thomas Geyer can be contacted at (563) 383-2328 or tgeyer@qctimes.com.