Record rainfall reaches Twin Lakes Area, causes flooding concerns

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Saturday’s rainfall led to the breaking of another record, and it has also caused some concerns over flooding.

At KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot, the offical reporting stations for the National Weather Service in Mountain Home, a total of 3.95 inches of rain fell between 7 a.m. Saturday and 7 a.m. Sunday. The previous record for the same date was 2.15 inches set in 2003. Since 7 a.m. Sunday, an additional 1/10 of an inch has fallen, bringing the total for the last four days to 4.83 inches. Currently, this month is the 10th-wettest May on record with 9.33 inches. The wettest May recorded was in 1946 when 11.87 inches of rain fell.

The rainfall has led to a significant rise in the levels of our local waters. The Buffalo National River is being reported at flood stage in several of its areas. The river is at 16.1 feet near St. Joe, 16.77 feet near Harriet, 14.48 feet near Pruitt and 7.37 feet at Ponca.

Both of the Twin Lakes are also higher than normal. The level at Bull Shoals Lake was reported at 690.1 feet at 11 a.m. Sunday, and Norfork was at 574.78 feet.

The rain has also caused some issues for local roads. A spokesperson at the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office says there were some low-water crossings covered, but most of the water has started to recede. A Marion County Sheriff’s dispatch spokesperson says several creeks are high, but there aren’t significant travel issues.

In Ozark County, the Missouri Department of Transportation says a portion of Missouri Route T is closed due to flooding. The closure affects the portion of the road traveling from Missouri Highway 5 to Missouri Route J at Howards Ridge. Other highway closures in Ozark County include Missouri Route H between County Roads 346 and 347, Missouri Highway 181 from the Sycamore Access to County Road 176 and Missouri Highway 95 at Bryant Creek. An Ozark County Sheriff’s spokesperson also says some county roads are currently experiencing flooding issues.

MoDOT announced other road closures Sunday morning due to flooding. In Howell County, Missouri Highway 142 is closed between Missouri Route FF and Missouri Route E near Moody, and Missouri Route K is closed between Missouri Route MM and Missouri Route KK. In Douglas County, Missouri Route FF is closed east of Ava, and Missouri Route Y west of Ava is closed at Cowskin Creek.

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