More rain expected to fall this weekend in southern Illinois

A car drives through standing water Saturday morning on Meadowlark Drive in Carterville. (Gary Spoerre for DailyEgyptian.com)

By Anna Spoerre
August 13, 2016

Carbondale is just one of 20 southern Illinois towns under flooding threat this weekend.

Just before 10 a.m. today the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for southeastern Jackson, Franklin, western Williamson, northern Cape Girardeau and Union counties.

The warning was initially in effect until 11:45 a.m. but has been extended to 7:15 p.m. for Jackson County.

As of this morning, flash flooding and road closures were reported in Crainville and Carterville – towns about eight miles northeast of Carbondale.

Almost four inches of rain has been recorded in the region since Friday evening and more is expected to fall as the weekend progresses.

SIU Athletics canceled today’s football scrimmage as a result of the inclement weather.

Retired semi-truck driver Frank Helton, of Vienna, retrieves fishing line and a float from Crab Orchard Lake on Saturday during the National Weather Service’s flash flood warning for southeastern Jackson, Franklin, western Williamson, northern Cape Girardeau and Union counties. “I can’t get much more wet than I already am,” said Helton, who recently moved from Vienna to live in Crab Orchard Lake’s campsite. “Floods don’t bother me. Being out here is like a breath of fresh air, like heaven on Earth.” (Morgan Timms | DailyEgyptian.com) — Retired semi-truck driver Frank Helton, of Vienna, retrieves fishing line and a float from Crab Orchard Lake on Saturday during the National Weather Service’s flash flood warning for several southern Illinois counties. “I can’t get much more wet than I already am,” said Helton, who recently moved from Vienna to live in Crab Orchard Lake’s campsite. “Floods don’t bother me. Being out here is like a breath of fresh air, like heaven on Earth.” (Morgan Timms | DailyEgyptian.com)

WSIL Meteorologist Tony Laubach said waves of torrential rainfall should be expected through late Monday into Tuesday morning, dropping an additional three to six inches of rain on the southern Illinois counties.

“This is very uncharacteristic of this time of year,” he said of the late summer storms coming from a tropical system that originated in Louisiana.

MORE: Storms cut short Illinois State Fair; leave more than 5,000 temporarily without power in St. Louis area

Laubach said drivers should slow down and avoid traveling through standing water.

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The National Weather Service advises people in the threatened locations to move to higher ground and take extra precautions.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJDXv7NDqD9/?taken-by=devinmedia

@WSILNews #ilwx Perry County off US51 north of DuQuoin, Nighthawk Rd now a river. pic.twitter.com/bFCw4axV7k

— Tony Laubach (@TonyLaubach) August 13, 2016

#ilwx @WSILNews Tamaroa Casey's flooded with half a foot of water, overflowing onto US51. pic.twitter.com/6fhxU0ecv9

— Tony Laubach (@TonyLaubach) August 13, 2016

18 inches of water across Giant City Road 5.5 miles south of Carbondale, per spotter. Do NOT drive across water covered roads.

— NWS Paducah, KY (@NWSPaducah) August 13, 2016

⚠️ Move to higher ground! Flash Flood Warning continues for Carbondale IL and Marion IL until 11:45 AM CDT pic.twitter.com/JyIlztyeAq

— @NWSFlashFlood (@NWSFlashFlood) August 13, 2016