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...The National Weather Service in Paducah KY has issued a Flood
Warning for the following rivers in Illinois...

Big Muddy River near Plumfield affecting Williamson and Franklin
Counties.

Big Muddy River near Murphysboro affecting Jackson County.

.A multi-day heavy rain is headed toward the region lasting through
Saturday. Three days of rainfall is incorporated into the forecast
but it still does not include the entire event. The Big Muddy River
has started to rise and increases in crest forecasts can be
expected. Now is the time to prepare for major flooding.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive
cars through flooded areas.

Caution is urged when walking near riverbanks.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.

Additional information is available at www.weather.gov.

&&

...FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT UNTIL FURTHER
NOTICE...

* WHAT...Moderate flooding is forecast.

* WHERE...Big Muddy River near Plumfield.

* WHEN...From late Friday night until further notice.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- At 10:30 AM CDT Thursday the stage was 12.5 feet.
- Forecast...The river will rise above flood stage early
Saturday morning to 30.7 feet early Monday afternoon. It will
then fall early Wednesday morning. It will rise to 30.2 feet
Wednesday evening. It will then fall again but remain above
flood stage.
- Flood stage is 20.0 feet.


&&

...RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS REDEVELOPING...

Areas of showers and embedded thunderstorms have formed in
northeast Arkansas and southeast Missouri. This activity does not
pose a threat for tornadoes. However lightning and very heavy rain
may pose a threat to those working on evaluating and cleaning up
storm damage.

The activity will approach Sikeston around 10:30 am, Bardwell and
Cape Girardeau by about 10:45 am, Murray and Paducah by around
11:15 am, Marion, IL by 11:15 am.

Heavy rainfall may also lead to flash flooding.

.Showers and storms last night produced 1 to 3 inches of rainfall
across the Quad State. With another 6 to 10 inches of rainfall
forecast through Sunday, a particularly dangerous flooding and flash
flooding situation is expected.

...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING...

* WHAT...Flash flooding and flooding caused by excessive rainfall is
expected. With 1 to 3 inches already fallen and another 7 to 10
inches forecast, a particularly dangerous situation is likely to
develop.

* WHERE...All of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western
Kentucky, and  southeast Missouri.

* WHEN...Through Sunday morning.

* IMPACTS...
...This is a particularly dangerous situation...

Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams,
and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams
may rise out of their banks. Low-water crossings may be flooded.
Extensive street flooding may develop. Flooding may occur in homes,
businesses and other locations not normally subject to flooding.
Roadways may wash away near creeks and culverts.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- Multiple rounds of locally heavy rainfall over several days
will result in extreme forecast amounts of up to 1 foot of
rain that will cause the risk of flash flooding and flooding
to rise markedly and create a particularly dangerous flooding
situation.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood
Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared
to take action should flooding develop.

&&