Forecasters say more rain coming

Weather forecasters say more rain is coming to the Wiregrass Thursday evening, but say chances are good the heaviest rain may stay south of the already-saturated counties of Dale and Coffee.

John Feldt of the Southeast Regional Forecast Center said current computer models suggest the Wiregrass will receive more rain beginning Thursday evening, but that a cold front could provide a buffer, containing the worst part of the event to the Florida Panhandle.

Feldt said river levels in Coffee and Dale have crested and should be decreasing throughout Wednesday and Thursday. If most of the heavier rain stays south, it should mimimize chances of further flooding. However, Feldt issued a forecaster’s caution.

“I will say that over the past couple of months, we have seen heavier precipitation and rain a little further north than our models, so we will have to keep a close eye on this,” Feldt said during a Webinar with local Emergency Management Agencies Wednesday.

Meanwhile, river levels at the Chattahoochee near Columbia and Gordon held steady Wednesday, with some flooding remaining on River Road and Gilbert Road in Columbia.

Houston County Emergency Management Agency Director Clark Matthews said emergency personnel would monitor the rain Thursday night, but was hopeful most of the rain would stay to the south.

The Choctawhatchee River at Newton crested at 31.66 feet near midnight Tuesday and is forecast to begin a gradual decline. It is not expected to go below flood stage until Saturday morning.

The Choctawhatchee River at Geneva was expected to crest early Wednesday afternoon and begin a gradual decline, retreating below flood state Saturday morning as well.

The Columbia Lock and Dam on the Chattahoochee River crested at 110.94 late Wednesday and was expeced to remain steady through Thursday before a gradual decline over the following three days.

Feldt said the Wiregrass could expect more rain next week and even into January, according to forecasts. Another rainmaker is scheduled to hit the Wiregrass on Christmas Eve.

“Unfortunately, we do see several (systems) lined up,” Feldt said.